Caregivers Advancement Fund
NEWSLETTER | SPRING 2022
The Caregivers Advancement Fund (CAF) is approaching its one-year anniversary on April 12, 2022, and we are very proud to say that our success in year one has exceeded our expectations. To date, we have raised over $20,000 and distributed eight awards, totaling more than $6,000. Our goals for the coming year are to increase awareness of the Fund and to reach more caregivers, both through emergency support grants and educational funding. We appreciate your support through regular contributions and spreading awareness. Please follow us at the social media sites listed below.
FALL FUNDRAISER
On November 17, 2021, the CAF held a fundraising event in honor of our caregivers and to raise money for the Fund. The theme of the evening was “On the Front Lines with our Elders” and the discussion centered around the challenges faced by home care workers in the NYC metro area. Our guest speaker was Dr. Paul Katz, Professor and Chair of the Department of Geriatrics at Florida State University, who spoke on the links between caregiving and quality healthcare. One
of our home health aides, Caullet Wright, joined us to discuss the challenges that she and others have faced in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and other day-to-day obstacles in the field. The event raised close to $9000, thanks to the generous contributions of our donors.
IMPACT
One of our recent grant recipients is SB, a caregiver who joined our organization last fall after moving here from Florida. She writes:
“I am a single mother of three children here from Florida. I have distant family as emergency contacts, but none close enough to help babysit or pick up my children from school. I am currently building myself up in a great community where I can hopefully grow and have support. The CAF grants covering after-school childcare have given me a jump start and helped me to get back to work. I am truly appreciative.” Another grant recipient is Omar Gulmohamad, the son of one of our caregivers. Omar received a $1000 college scholarship for his freshman year at the University at Albany. We’re proud to report that Omar is flourishing. Here is what he had to say about his experience to date: “My first year at SUNY Albany has been going great so far. I completed my first semester at UAlbany with a 3.94 GPA and got accepted to the Honors College. I have attended events organized by the University and Honors College. I have been to sporting events, and club interest meetings. I have met many people through these experiences and immersed myself within the UAlbany environment. Overall, I have been enjoying my college experience.”
GRANTS
The CAF has distributed the following grants 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
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.
