New York, NY (November 1, 2023) – The West Side Community Fund (WSCF), a consortium of leading businesses and firms that come together to support neighborhood initiatives in the west side of Manhattan, today announced the allocation of $100,000 to 21 grant recipients as part of its bi-annual grant program, which is administered by Hudson Guild, a multi-service community-based organization serving those who live, work, or attend school in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. In acknowledgement and celebration of all Spring and Fall 2023 grant recipients, as well as the Fund’s 5th anniversary, the organization held a Grantee Celebration at Hudson Guild’s Fulton Community Center on October 25th, which was attended by elected officials, local community leaders, the Fund’s board members, grantees, donors, and community partners.

The allocation of microgrants further the Fund’s goal of strengthening communities along Manhattan’s West Side by investing in and bolstering groups that uplift under-resourced residents across Chelsea, Hudson Yards, and Hell’s Kitchen. With nearly 50 percent of the organizations being new recipients, the 2023 Spring and Fall grant cycles showcase a noteworthy expansion of the Fund’s reach in supporting the diverse needs of the community, including the facets of food security, education, health and wellness, economic empowerment, and community improvement.

The 21 Fall 2023 grant recipients are:

• Adaptive Design Association - a collaborative initiative working with students and staff to design and build custom assistive adaptations for students with disabilities

• Asian Community Care Organization - a program providing essential social services and resources to the underserved Asian senior community 

• Autistic Adults NYC - a series of complimentary creativity-focused classes designed to cater the needs of autistic adults 

• Cambio Labs - a nonprofit that creates educational technology and curricular programs that transform students into social entrepreneurs, designers for impact, and community activists

• CHEKPEDS - Clinton Hell’s Kitchen Chelsea Coalition for Pedestrian Safety (CHEKPEDS) is a group of businesses, institutions, and property owners uniting to correct the dangerous pedestrian conditions in the neighborhood

• Chelsea Community News - a news, arts, and information website serving Manhattan's Chelsea, Flatiron District, Meatpacking District, Hudson Yards, and Hell’s Kitchen neighborhoods

• Food Education Fund - an internship program offering valuable career experience to high school seniors through partnerships with top restaurants and the greater food industry

• Friends of Argentine Tango - a group that promotes and brings the positive benefits of dancing Tango and other Latin social dances to people who might not otherwise try them

• Friends of Chelsea Green - an advocacy group for the Chelsea Green Park that works to create community in the park through events and activities

• Hell’s Kitchen Community Cupboard - an operation redirecting excess food from local businesses to residents facing food insecurity

• Hot Bread Kitchen - a five-week course that trains people of diverse backgrounds in the culinary arts to support job placement in professional kitchens

• Keoni Movement Arts - a nonprofit organization that provides movement classes to individuals of all ages, abilities, and means

• Manhattan Community Boathouse - a nonprofit offering free kayaking in New York City at Pier 96 in Hudson River Park

• Manhattan Plaza Theatre Project - a theatre group providing seniors with the opportunity to engage in the performing arts 

• PS11 Aid Foundation - an initiative providing meals for migrant families in the PS11 district, in partnership with Holy Apostles and Support + Feed 

• Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries - a nonprofit organization that provides direct and educational services that promote individual and community growth

• RUSA LGBTQ Corp. - a support network for Eurasian LGBTQ+ asylum seekers expanding its services to the midtown West Side area of New York City 

• S3v3n Inc. - an initiative that provides services and support for people impacted by domestic violence

• Seeds of Fortune - a 6-month program equipping students with the essential tools and knowledge to empower successful college journeys

• The 52nd Street Project - a nonprofit arts education and mentoring organization dedicated to the students in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood

• W42ST - a news information website that keeps residents of the Hell's Kitchen community connected, updated, and upbeat

“The longer-term plan for WSCF is centered around our goal to make a lasting and meaningful impact in the West Side community. Building upon our success to date, we are committed to scaling the Fund further over time and deepening our partnerships with –and between– donors, community leaders, local electeds, and grantees,” said Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown and President of the WSCF Board. “The Fund’s microgrants program has proved to be an innovative way to reach hyper-local, grassroots organizations and provides an important layer of funding to the ecosystem of organizations serving under-resourced residents in Chelsea, Hudson Yards, and Hell’s Kitchen.  The program reaches organizations generally not supported by large philanthropic foundations.  The model also enables companies with a presence in the West Side to demonstrate their continued commitment to lifting up all members of the community.” 

“Hudson Guild is grateful to the West Side Community Fund for its dedication to supporting local organizations, projects, and innovative ideas addressing our community’s pressing needs,” said Ken Jockers, Executive Director of Hudson Guild. “We are pleased to administer the fund to help implement its important mission and fortunate to have such a committed group of companies focused on making a difference for the people who need it most in Chelsea and on the West Side of Manhattan.”

“Since its creation five years ago, the West Side Community Fund has been committed to supporting innovative projects that improve the lives of residents in the Chelsea and Hudson Yard neighborhoods,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler. “The 2023 grant awardees continue that tradition with projects that include creating educational technology that transform students into social entrepreneurs, improving safety measures for pedestrians of all ages, and fighting for the rights of poor, low-income, and working individuals and families. I extend my congratulations to the 2023 awardees and to the West Side Community Fund for its continued positive impact across the West Side that will be experienced for years to come.”

“This year's West Side Community Fund Grant recipients demonstrate the best of Manhattan's West Side – a dedication to the continued improvement of and service to our community,” said Congressman Dan Goldman. “Congratulations on this momentous achievement, and I'm excited to see all the good these fantastic organizations will have the opportunity to do with these awards.”

“Our small business and social service organizations help make New York the greatest city in the world, and the West Side Community Fund helps channel crucial assistance to those in Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, and Hudson Yards,” said New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “During the pandemic that devastated many local businesses and services, the WSCF stepped up to support – and since 2018, they have donated over $925,000 grants to local organizations such as CHEKPEDS and W42ST. I am delighted the Hudson Guild relaunched the WSCF last summer, and I’m excited to see community organizations on the West Side continue to flourish thanks to their support.”

"For years, the West Side Community Fund and the donors supporting it have helped to improve life for the people of Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea,” said Assembly Member Tony Simone. “By providing generous grants to community organizations that boost our neighborhoods, the Fund will strengthen local journalism, improve street safety, serve people with disabilities, feed the hungry, and more.”

“The West Side Community Fund is a remarkable opportunity to provide additional funding and support to vital neighborhood initiatives in my district,” said City Council Member Erik Bottcher. “I want to thank the West Side Community Fund Board for their careful consideration of this year’s applicants. I also applaud the new grantees receiving this year’s award and look forward to watching their work flourish here on the West Side.”

"The West Side Community Fund has vastly strengthened local organizations’ capacity to meet community needs and grow their reach. Exemplifying the strength of collaboration, the Fund and grant administrator Hudson Guild have uplifted and empowered countless Chelsea, Hudson Yards, and Hell’s Kitchen community members,” said Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President. “Investing in the West Side is never a bad idea.”

“Congratulations to all the Fall 2023 grantees," said Carley Graham Garcia, Amazon's Head of Community Affairs in New York City and WSCF Board Member. "Amazon is proud to be an active Board member of the West Side Community Fund and celebrate its 5th anniversary supporting hyperlocal organizations with needed grants to do amazing things in our neighborhood." 

“As a charter member of the WSCF, we are grateful for the work of our local community-based organizations and we know the incredible impact they make in people’s lives,” said Charles John O’Byrne, Executive Vice President for Policy at Related Companies and WSCF Board Member. “What makes the West Side Community Fund stand out is its emphasis on supporting organizations that are too often overlooked – especially those that focus on traditionally underserved communities. At Related, we’re proud to support the WSCF, Hudson Guild, and every worthy organization receiving an award.”

“I am proud of the impact that WSCF has had on innovative and creative businesses and mission-critical charities, many of which were key contributors to the west side community prior to the extensive corporate presence of today,” said Joe Drayton, Partner at Cooley LLP and WSCF Board Member. 

Since its establishment in 2018, the Fund has distributed over $925,000 to local organizations catering to the most vulnerable members of the community, with grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Donors that supported this grant cycle include Amazon, Brookfield Properties, Cooley, Google, Jamestown, KKR, Pfizer, Promethean Builders, Related, RXR, S9 Architecture, Tapestry Foundation, Third Point, and Turner Construction.

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About West Side Community Fund 

West Side Community Fund (WSCF) is a consortium of leading businesses and firms that come together to support neighborhood initiatives in the west side of Manhattan. Through a bi-annual grant program, WSCF supports initiatives that deliver improved or expanded services to residents along the West Side, particularly underserved populations. For more information, visit westsidecommunityfund.org.

About Hudson Guild 

Hudson Guild–a multi-service community-based organization serving those who work, live, or go to school in Chelsea and the west side– administers the grant process on behalf of the West Side Community Fund. Hudson Guild’s programming helps support, enrich, and empower community members. For more information, visit hudsonguild.org.