Foundation’s Root and Commitment to Astoria and Long Island City Neighborhoods Deepened in Response to COVID-19 Crisis 

New York, NY (May 27, 2020)— The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation announced $150,000 in emergency funding to Western Queens nonprofit programs that provide frontline response to the COVID-19 crisis including food access, financial relief and support for high-risk constituents and workers during this time.

To date, 19 organizations have received $5,000 or $10,000 grants to provide stability, security and support as they adapt to challenges created by COVID-19. Recipients include a few long-term grantees of the Foundation; however majority of the organizations are new to the Foundation.

All the recipients are organizations offering frontline and emergency support to their communities as well as those working in the Foundation’s priority areas such as workforce development, job training, education and support for immigrant communities. This funding will create additional support for nonprofits as they navigate new challenges created by COVID-19.

The Foundation’s mission is to encourage and support programs that directly provide assistance to individuals who — due to either environment or circumstance — have not had the opportunity or ability to live independent and productive lives.

The Foundation has long been committed to Astoria and Long Island City in Western Queens, where founders Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi grew up and remained a part of the community throughout their lives. This area of focus is a concentration of poverty inclusive of 20,000 low-income citizens within three public housing developments that have the greatest social and economic need in Western Queens. TheFoundation is the only philanthropic funder based and focused in Western Queens.

“We are overwhelmed by the need in our community and will continue to monitor for other areas of need that emerge both within our current funding priority areas such as jobs, education, immigrant populations, and beyond.” Executive Director, Pooja Joshi O’Hanlon, said the Foundation will continue to support these neighborhoods as the pandemic impacts them.  

“It was incredible how quickly we were able to make the grants, the need far surpasses our resources, we will continue to explore what else we can do for the community,” said Board Chair Jose Rivero.

The Foundation issued to grants based on the principles of Trust Based Philanthropy Project to decrease the burden on the recipients.

About The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation

The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation is a legacy and a continuation of Tom and Jeanne’s lifetime commitment to helping people. The Foundation strives to have a direct and measurable impact on the quality of individual lives, either through sponsorship or innovative program design and development.

Emergency Fund Grant Recipients

Zone 126– To contribute to the purchase of technology and equipment to support students with remote learning

SNLP– To provide emergency support to constituents via the Founder’s Fund and to purchase technology for the virtual Queens program

Hour Children– To support the food pantry during the COVID-19 crisis

Queens Library– To support the Library’s expanding technology and virtual resources in response to COVID-19 

Floating Hospital– To support their healthcare work for the homeless population in Western Queens in response to COVID-19  

LIC Relief COVID-19 Response– To support LIC Relief’s emergency food pantry and other related emergency services within the LIC/Astoria communities

Urban Upbound– To provide Emergency Relief to Western Queens NYCHA developments in response to COVID-19 

Make the Road– To support MRNY’s COVID-19 Emergency Food Program, Support and Services for individuals and families in Western Queens

Frontline Foods Queens/World Central Kitchen– To support Frontline Foods Queens for COVID-19 relief at Mount Sinai Queens and Elmhurst Hospitals

ACE Programs for the Homeless– To support COVID-19 relief efforts for graduates of ACE’s programs from Western Queens

NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation– To support essential workers and healthcare staff in response to COVID-19

Socrates Sculpture Park– To support the organization’s response for a vulnerable community in response to COVID-19

Museum of the Moving Image– To support MOMI’s work in the community in response to COVID-19 

HANAC– To support Child and Family Counseling as well as Substance Treatment in Western Queens in response to COVID-19

Sanctuary for Families Fund for Vulnerable Families– To support Sanctuary’s COVID-19 emergency response for its constituents in Queens

Safe Horizon– To support COVID-19 emergency response at the Queens Child Advocacy Center and Queens Domestic Violence Shelters

Phoenix House Queens- Parkside– To support the organization’s work in response to COVID-19 at its Long Island City headquarters

NYC Kids Rise– To provide emergency relief to families in Astoria Houses in response to the COVID-19 crisis