Harckham Funds Local Youth Workforce Training, Community Programs with End-of-Year Resolution Grants

Peekskill, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that he secured $464,500 in an end-of-year resolution in the State Senate for additional grant funding for important youth workforce training and community programs distributed to 10 different recipients.

The funding, awarded at Harckham’s discretion, comes from several areas in the enacted FY2024-2024 State Budget, including the Division of Criminal Justice Services, Division of Housing and Community Renewal, Department of Health, Department of Labor, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. 

“The investments we have made in these important community programs are the result of hearing from different municipal officials and nonprofit stakeholders about the necessary resources required to support the work they are doing,” said Harckham. “Many of these nonprofit organizations operate on shoestring budgets—and yet accomplish so much; they are on the frontlines in so many important areas. I am glad to have secured this funding because these programs will help empower residents and benefit them in so many ways. Each of these recipients is deserving of our support, and I thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for acknowledging the impact of their work in our communities.”

Among those receiving funding through the end-of-year resolution:

• City of Peekskill: $50,000 for Workforce Training programs focusing on young adults and gun violence prevention
• Neighbor’s Link, Inc.: $57,500 for Legal Services to Immigrant Community
• Putnam / Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center: $50,000 for Advocacy Outreach
• Ossining Padres Hispanos, Inc.: $25,000 for Operations and Vocational Training
• Hope’s Door, Inc.: $50,000 for Crisis Response, Outreach Expenses
• Prevention Council of Putnam, Inc.: $7,000 for Operations and Educational Programs
• CAREERS Support Solutions: $85,000 for Operations and Educational Programs
• Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation Corp. International: $80,000 for Operations and Research
• My Brother Vinny, Inc.: $50,000 for Operations, Storage Costs and Vehicle Maintenance
• Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route – NY, Inc.: $10,000 for Rochambeau Festival in Yorktown’s Rochambeau Park

Matthew Alexander, city manager for the City of Peekskill, said, “With New York State’s Violence Prevention Crisis Response funding, the City will continue workforce training for young adults with credible mentors at their side. Additional funding secured by Senator Harckham helps Peekskill to walk youth at risk through the process of setting goals and achieving them, which is the best way to prevent despair and violence. We want to offer youth making a transition from high school to adulthood the skills to see that they have all kinds of choices and that they too can have a bright future.

Carola Otero Bracco, executive director of Neighbors Link, said, “Neighbors Link is grateful to Senator Pete Harckham for his assistance in securing $57,500 in state grants to support immigration legal services. Last year, Neighbors Link Community Law Practice provided nearly 3,000 clients with free immigration legal services. On a daily basis, we see the impact of this legal work, as families stay together, get jobs, attend school and build new lives in New York. We not only appreciate this funding, but also Senator Hackham’s deep commitment to building more welcoming communities that recognize the dignity and value of every resident.”

Ann E. Ellsworth, executive director of the Putnam / Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center, said, “Thank you Senator Harckham for providing the Putnam/Northern Westchester Women's Resource Center this $50,000 award to increase access to free and confidential services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in Putnam and northern Westchester. This support will make a difference in a victim's future.”

Ana Guzman, executive director of Ossining Padres Hispanos, said, “I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Senator Harckham for the generous grant provided to our nonprofit organization. The Senator’s support is instrumental in enabling us to continue our mission of assisting immigrants and families in need. This funding will significantly enhance our ability to offer essential services and resources to those we serve. Thank you for your commitment to our community and for making a meaningful difference in the lives of many.”

CarlLa Horton, executive director of Hope’s Door, said, “Hope’s Door gratefully acknowledges State Senator Pete Harckham, not only for securing a $50,000 grant award for us in the FY2024-2025 budge, but also for his steadfast support of the needs of domestic violence victims over the last five years. Senator Harckham’s leadership has allowed Hope’s Door to expand crisis intervention services, enhance outreach to survivors, train police to assess for victims at risk for homicide, and intervene with teens in our dating abuse prevention program, among other needs. With the Senator’s current support, we will expand our crisis intervention services, conduct a multilingual community awareness program, and provide support for victims fleeing abuse and seeking financial independence. We thank the Senator for sharing in our mission to end domestic violence and to empower survivors to achieve safety, independence, and healing from the trauma of abuse.”

Kristin E. McDonnell, executive director of the Prevention Council of Putnam, Inc., said, “On behalf of the Prevention Council of Putnam, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the generous funding provided to fight substance misuse in our community. As a data driven agency, we promote education and awareness related to substance use disorders and problem gambling to the residents of Putnam County and the surrounding area. The Prevention Council of Putnam provides the community with up-to-date information and services related to prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery. Our hope is that those who have been impacted by addiction can thrive with the help and resources this funding will provide. Thank you, Senator Harckham, for your commitment to our cause and for making a meaningful difference.”

Tina Cornish-Lauria, executive director of CAREERS Support Solutions, said, “CAREERS is most appreciative of Senator Harckham’s support of our mission of preparing people with disabilities for work, placing them and providing the long-term support they need to stay employed. We don't receive enough funding from the state to cover expenses, so the Senator’s assistance is crucial for our clients to receive the services they need to find and keep jobs they love.” 

Paula Miritello, founder and director of My Brother Vinny, Inc., said: “My Brother Vinny is a small but mighty organization serving veterans throughout New York State and the entire Hudson Valley Region. We are so very thankful for Senator Harckham’s support; he has made a tremendous difference in the lives of the veterans we serve. Last year was a record year of service for us, as we furnished over 453 homes for Veterans and their families. All of this has been possible due to Senator Harckham’s commitment to ensuring our formerly homeless veterans have all of the resources available to rebuild their lives in their community.”

Lynn Briggs, chair of the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route – NY (W3R-NY), said, “W3R-NY is very grateful to caring and involved civic leaders like Senator Harckham who enable small non-profits such as ours the opportunity to deliver events such as the Rochambeau Festival to educate our communities about our robust local history. This funding is instrumental in creating public awareness about the American Revolution and the pivotal roles that General Rochambeau and the French Army, and General Washington and the Continental Army, played in defeating the British to end the Revolutionary War and gain American independence.”

Mitchell Cairo, MD, Section Chief of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, said, “We express our gratitude to Senator Harckham and New York State for the $80,000 grant allocated to the Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation Corp. This grant, administered by WMCHealth and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, is crucial for our ongoing mission to provide comprehensive care and resources to individuals affected by sickle cell disease. As the lead center in a multi-center sickle cell disease trial, our early results are very encouraging, with more than 90% of Phase 1 trial participants disease-free one year after transplant. We are the only New York State-approved Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Center in the Hudson Valley, and with these funds, we can continue our groundbreaking research, enhance critical services, and help improve the quality of life for hundreds of patients and their families.”