Caregivers Advancement Fund
NEWSLETTER | FALL 2022
The Caregivers Advancement Fund (CAF) had a very successful summer and is on pace to exceed fundraising and distribution goals for 2022. We remain dedicated to increasing awareness of the Fund and reaching more caregivers in the New York City Metropolitan Area, both through emergency support grants and educational funding. We appreciate your ongoing support and contributions.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES
The start of the fall season can be a stressful time for families with children. After a long summer of day programs, camps and vacations, parents find themselves paying for expensive supplies and clothing to get kids ready for the new school year. For this reason, in August 2022, we launched a program to provide free backpacks and supplies to school-aged children of caregivers. We had an overwhelming response and placed almost 100 orders. In NYC, such supplies can cost $50 or more per child. For families with multiple children, this can become a very large expense. Through bulk ordering, the CAF was able to access high-quality backpacks and materials from reputable manufacturers at discounted rates. We are so delighted with the success of this program that we have decided to do it annually.
GRANTS AND PROGRAMS
The CAF has distributed the following awards to date:
College Scholarship: $1000
Housing Support: $1000
Home Health Aide Certification: $438
Auto Repairs: $1000
Housing Support: $1000
After-school Childcare (2 grants): $1065
Auto Purchase: $1000
College Scholarship: $1000
Back-to-School Supplies: $1080
IMPACT
One of the core principles of the Caregivers Advancement Fund is to ensure that we impact lives through our giving. In that respect, we look closely at a caregiver’s background and stated purpose for the funds. In July, we were very proud to offer a $1000 scholarship to caregiver Griselda Wright in connection with her studies at San Diego Mesa College. Ms. Wright is working towards a degree in Child Development and hopes to work with young children in the future. Her story (which she has allowed us share) is nothing short of remarkable. She is a single mom who has balanced a career, education, and raising her son for the past 16 years. A first-generation immigrant from El Salvador, Ms. Wright did not have the opportunity to complete her education back home where she was working to support her parents and siblings. Since coming to the United States, Ms. Wright has made it a mission to prove to her son that he “comes from a family of intelligent, iron-willed people, and if his mother, an immigrant who struggled with both speaking and writing in English for nearly two decades, can get her college degree, then he can too.” In addition to her work and studies, Ms. Wright is an active volunteer in her community and has led numerous youth groups. With her degree, she hopes to continue impacting lives and helping those who are the most vulnerable in our society.
ABOUT
The CAF is a nonprofit component Fund of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, a 501(c)(3) corporation. The CAF distributes grants and interest-free micro loans to caregivers and their families in the New York City area, covering emergent needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, utilities, and legal expenses. The Fund also supports continuing education, including certificate-based and advanced courses to help increase the pool of skilled home care workers in our communities. Furthermore, the CAF grants higher education scholarships for children of caregivers seeking careers in healthcare, public service, social work, criminal justice, and related fields.
