Money Moves: Valley Youth House, Riverfront North Partnership and other local orgs earned nearly $6M
March 14, 2019 Category: Column, Featured, Funding, MediumMoney Moves is a semi-regular column tracking grants made by local funders, including foundations, giving circles, trusts and corporate entities. Send notices to philly@generocity.org.
1. Valley Youth House won a scale-tipping $2.9 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fight homelessness.
The youth services organization will use the cash to bolster 12 housing and support services programs for people experiencing homelessness. VYH expects the funding will provide housing for more than 250 households across eight of Pennsylvania’s eastern counties.
Valley Youth House recently received $2.9 million in @HUDgov renewal, expansion, and new funding for 12 programs focusing on housing and homelessness services.https://t.co/VVcDNvpYkn pic.twitter.com/hDNvPonKIk
— Valley Youth House (@VYHouse) February 28, 2019
2. The William Penn Foundation awarded $2 million to Riverfront North Partnership to develop a waterside park in Philly’s Bridesburg neighborhood.
The new 10-acre Riverfront Park will be the latest addition to Riverfront North, a planned 11-mile route of trails and parks spanning the Delaware River bank throughout Northeast Philadelphia. Constructed in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the City of Philadelphia, the park’s first phase is projected to finish in 2021, while the second is slated for 2025.
“Riverfront North Partnership’s vision is to reconnect our communities to a river that has been inaccessible to them for generations,” said Stephanie Phillips, Riverfront North Partnership’s executive director of nearly a year. “Receiving this generous funding from William Penn Foundation, and our partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the City of Philadelphia, enables us to work with our community to create a river park that is an integral part of life for our neighbors, as well as a city-wide destination.”
3. Citizens Bank contributed $150,000 to the Philadelphia Local Initiatives Support Corporation for career-focused education and trainings throughout the city.
Under the plan, unemployed and underemployed Philadelphians can take advantage of education, training and career-coaching opportunities designed to help them break into fast-growing industries like healthcare. The grant will support the District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund, a financial opportunity center that addresses unemployment through a LISC-developed strategy that includes:
- Providing education for workers who want to improve their math and reading levels
- Placing Philadelphians in technical training programs and jobs
- Facilitating post-employment coaching to help people break out of entry-level gigs and enter long-term careers
“I’d like to thank Citizens Bank, LISC, and the District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund for forging this critical partnership,” Mayor Jim Kenney said. “Initiatives like this reinforce our city’s commitment to providing Philadelphians with the skills and resources they need for jobs that provide family-sustaining wages.”
4. The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City received $100,000 from the AmerisourceBergen Foundation for an executive education program for inner-city businesses.
Funding comes from the foundation’s healthcare-and-education-oriented Human & Animal Grant Program and will support local companies and entrepreneurs as part of ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections program. The initiative will impact more than 50 businesses and emphasize mentorship, coaching, capacity-building education, creating jobs and facilitating connections with funders.
5. State Rep. Jared Solomon teamed up with community and business leaders to award $70,000 to the Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association.
Tax credits approved by the Neighborhood Assistance Program can be thanked for the notable contribution to the community org. The money celebrates the association’s commitment to embracing diversity throughout Philly’s lower northeast region and focus on early childhood literacy, workforce development and placemaking.
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Even with Daylight Saving Time throwing off everyone’s schedules, other philanthropic Philly funders didn’t miss a beat:
- Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz joined NRG to present Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with a celebratory big check in honor of contributing more than $600,000 in two years to the Cardiac Center.
- The Urban League of Philadelphia received $40,000 from Bank of America for its new Cottman Plaza Community Financial Center in Northeast Philly.
- Giving circle New Colossus Donors awarded just under $9,000 total to Border Angels, Common Cause, Fair Districts PA and Pennsylvania Voice in support of causes including government accountability and immigration reform advocacy.
- Women’s Way gave Mental Health Partnerships $10,000 to provide re-entry support for 30 women leaving Riverside Correctional Facility and to compensate 12 women incarcerated at RCF who are working as certified peer specialists.