Grant funds will help pay heating bills for those in need and across program locations
Howard Beach, NY—On February 26, the National Grid Foundation presented Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens with a $250,000 fuel-neutral heating fund check at the Msgr. Joseph Pfeiffer Resource Center, located at 155-55 Crossbay Boulevard, Howard Beach, NY.
The $250,000 heating fund grant will support five Catholic Charities programs aimed at helping families and older adults pay their heating bills and cover heating expenses at centers that serve low-income individuals and families. This marks the first year that the National Grid Foundation has partnered with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to support its emergency heating funds.
“On behalf of our community, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the foundation for its incredible generosity and unwavering support,” said Monsignor Alfred LoPinto, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and affiliates. “Your commitment to assisting those most in need in our boroughs truly embodies the spirit of compassion and charity that uplifts us all. Thank you for making a meaningful difference in the lives of so man.”
The Catholic Charities Community Outreach Program will receive $100,000 for the new Catholic Charities “Stay Cozy Fund,” which was created to help families in need of emergency financial assistance pay their heating bills. Catholic Charities Older Adult Services will receive $20,000 for clients at older adult centers who need financial assistance with their National Grid heating bills.
The remaining $130,000 will help cover the heating bills at the Catholic Charities Peter Striano Residence, Catholic Charities Monastery Senior Housing, Catholic Charities Caring Communities Apartments, and Catholic Charities St. Malachy’s Early Childhood Development Center, which serve low-income families and individuals in need.
“We have a long history of serving as a community partner, understand the critical need in our communities, and want our customers to know we are here to help,” National Grid Foundation Board Chair Eileen Cohen said. “We are so grateful to these amazing organizations who have partnered with us; they help deliver so many much-needed services during these trying economic times.”
This year, the National Grid Foundation is gifting $3 million to six emergency fuel-neutral heating funds in New York City, Long Island, and Massachusetts. A one-time donation of $900,000 supplements the Foundation’s “traditional” annual heating fund grants and allows it to spread its support throughout the Northeast region.
The National Grid Foundation began in 1998 and has granted more than $43 million to local community organizations to help enhance quality of life and create opportunities for solutions to educational and environmental issues.
“This year’s emergency heating fund assistance allows the Foundation to expand its support to additional communities and broaden and deepen our local help,” Newly appointed Foundation Executive Director Robert Simmons said. “We are critically concerned about energy affordability and are so pleased that through this funding, we anticipate being able to support more than 7,500 families this year.”
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is thrilled to receive the National Grid Foundation’s generous gift to support home heating and utility emergency aid.
About Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens
For 125 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been providing social services to those in need. Catholic Charities offers 160+ programs for children, families, older adults, and those with mental illness. Since 1975, Catholic Charities has built over 4,567 affordable housing units. Last year, we provided $6.5 million in food assistance at 60 parish-based food pantries, pop-up events, older adult centers, and home-delivered meals for the homebound elderly. We serve more than 500,000 individuals with emergency assistance, older adult services, mental health counseling, affordable housing, family services, and early childhood programs. For more information, visit www.ccbq.org.
About the National Grid Foundation
The National Grid Foundation was created to enhance the quality of life across its grant making territory. The Foundation’s ongoing challenge is to create opportunities for solutions to educational and environmental issues. Its objective is based on the principle that giving people the tools to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families, and communities. Since its inception in December of 1998, has granted more than $43 million to local community organizations. www.nationalgridfoundation.com.
From the left: President and CEO of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and affiliates Monsignor Alfred LoPinto and National Grid Foundation Executive Director Robert Simmons.
Howard Beach Apartments residents