The Community Fund of Bronxville Eastchester Tuckahoe, Inc. was founded on October 2, 1919, as The Community Welfare Fund, Inc., to support Lawrence Hospital, The Associated Charities of Eastchester, and other charitable agencies or welfare work in the community. The Fund served the community during the depression and World War II, providing basic support to families and the war effort.
From 1919-1979, The Community Welfare Fund underwent several name changes. In the 1940’s and early 1950’s the name became The Community Chest (the Red Feather for those who remember). In 1954 the name was changed to the United Fund of Bronxville Eastchester Tuckahoe, Inc. Later, in 1965 the organization affiliated with the United Fund of Westchester which became known as the United Way of Westchester in 1978.
On July 1, 1980, The United Fund of Bronxville Eastchester Tuckahoe severed its affiliation with the United Way of Westchester to ensure that all funds raised locally would remain in the three communities. It re-established itself under its original charter of 1919 and changed its name to The Community Fund of Bronxville Eastchester Tuckahoe, Inc., thereby reaffirming the organization’s original objectives.
The Community Fund currently supports 26 social service agencies and community programs which provided critical services to Bronxville, Eastchester, Tuckahoe and the area within the Bronxville 10708 zip code (the BET community). In addition to funding, The Community Fund also provides administrative support to the agencies it supports through on-going site visits, consultations, workshops and forums.
Dear Neighbors,
I want to start by thanking all of you who have supported the Community Fund of BET. Your contributions truly make a difference – and without you, the Community Fund could not exist.
The Community Fund has had a busy year. A few highlights are listed below:
As you will see documented in this Annual Report, the Community Fund has touched all ages and areas in our community. We provided $486,351 to 21 senior organizations, youth organizations, family organizations and health care organizations. These grants allow these organizations to provide important services which meet the most critical of needs in our community.
We provided more than just monetary support. The Community Fund helped agencies coordinate during the pandemic and learn from each other as they pivoted to online and alternative programming.
We completed last year a strategic plan, which provides a roadmap to shape the future direction of the fund. We are in our first year of implementing that multi-year plan. As part of the Strategic Plan,:
This year was a critical year in that strategic plan. Importantly we are nearing the completion of the needs assessment survey we are performing with PACE University. Preliminary drafts of the survey are helping us quantitatively identify the most pressing needs in our community. We believe this survey will help guide the revamp of our grant allocation process over the course of the next couple of years.
As we turn to a new fiscal year, the Board is excited and energized for the work ahead. We plan to push forward on the strategic plan, with the benefit of our needs assessment survey. We are also extremely excited to introduce a new fund raiser for the Community Fund, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament we will be hosting jointly with the Youth Community fund! All of this while continuing to support the local agencies with which we already work and reaching out to new organizations.
Please follow The Community Fund of BET and the Youth Community Fund of BET on Instagram and Facebook for updates of all the impactful ways your donations are being used. Finally, do not hesitate to reach out if you would like to learn more or become involved. We would love to have you!
Kindly,
Phillip Preis
Phil Preis, President
Caitlin Greatrex, President-Elect
Susan Conniff, Secretary
Joanne Johnson, Treasurer
Christopher Bush Investments, Co-Chair
Pam Morrisroe, Marketing Chair
Maria Sayegh, Campaign Co-Chair, Eastchester/Tuckahoe
Jeff Ungvary, Campaign Co-Chair, Bronxville
Catherine Moore , Special Event Chair
Amy Atkeson, Evaluations Co-Chair
Elizabeth Peacock, Evaluations Co-Chair
Peggy Belles
Laura Busker
Lisa Bodell
Lisa Dawson
Gary Garofalo
Wendy Halley
Joanne Johnson
Jonalie Korengold
Robin Lewis
Michelle Meyercord
Catherine Moore
Tania Neild
Sarah Normand
Patricia Reilly
Elisa Rizzo
Katie Shah
Donato Vaccaro
George Winn
Amy Rutter Korb, Executive Director
Sheridan Denfeld, Finance Administrator