Blackstone Charitable Foundation Announces 10th Anniversary Grant Competition Recipients
Twenty-five Organizations Awarded $250,000 in Employee-Driven Grant Funding
As part of The Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s BX Connects programming, and in celebration of their decade of impact, the Foundation launched a new employee-driven grant program: The Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Grant Competition. Through this competition, the Foundation awarded $250,000 in grants to 25 nonprofit organizations (all sourced and nominated by Blackstone employees) that are tackling complex issues in their communities with creative and impactful solutions.
“Through BX Connects, the Foundation is committed to supporting connected and inclusive communities where all members in our local neighborhoods have access to opportunity,” said Amy Stursberg, Executive Director of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. “Our employee-driven grant programming enables us to encourage, recognize and reward employee efforts and foster relationships with our local communities, and we’re looking forward to continuing to support similar initiatives in the years to come.”
In a culminating reception on February 7, Jon Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer of Blackstone, joined the Foundation in announcing the competition winners.
“Blackstone believes in operating globally and giving back locally — creating impact in the communities in which our employees live and work,” said Jon Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer of Blackstone. “Employee-driven grant programs like the 10th Anniversary Grant Competition provide opportunities for our most important asset — our people — to maximize the impact of our philanthropic investments and to help our nonprofit partners build strength in our communities.”
The 10th Anniversary Grant recipients are:
$25,000 Grant Award
Changing Young Lives Foundation supports underprivileged children and marginalized youth in Hong Kong and the Mainland by providing them with 100% free-of-charge, center-based and outreach programs in education, talent development, and self-empowerment.
Emma’s Torch harnesses the power of the culinary industry to help refugees build new lives in their new communities through culinary training, ESL classes, and interview preparation.
Health Information Project Inc educates adolescents and young adults about their health issues and encourages and assists them in accessing existing community health resources.
Periwinkle Foundation develops and provides programs that positively change the lives of children, young adults, and families who are challenged by cancer and other life threatening illnesses, and are cared for at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Tikkun Olam Makers is a global movement that drives innovation in assistive technology through the making of extremely affordable, open-source solutions to neglected problems and real-world challenges facing people with disabilities.
$10,000 Grant Award
A Fair Shake for Youth uses the power of hands-on programming with registered therapy dogs to help underserved middle-school youth build a foundation of empathy and self-esteem and reduce bullying.
America Needs You fights for economic mobility for ambitious, first-generation college students by providing transformative mentorship and intensive career development.
Bob Woodruff Foundation finds, funds, and shapes innovative programs that provide long-lasting positive outcomes for our nation’s wounded, ill, and injured veterans, service members, and their families.
Covenant House provides housing and supportive services to youth facing homelessness in order to support their efforts to transform their lives and put them on a path to independence.
George Jackson Academy is the only independent, non-sectarian, need-blind upper elementary and middle school for bright boys from low-income families in NYC.
Let’s Get Ready provides high school students from historically under-served communities and first-generation-to-college students with free SAT preparation, admission counseling, and other support services needed to gain admission to and graduate from college. Services are provided by volunteer college students who also serve as role models and mentors.
Mangalakara Education Trust fights poverty through education by providing orphaned children, or those children whose families cannot afford to feed or educate them, with a peaceful, secure, and stimulating environment in which to live and learn.
Row New York strives to empower young people from New York City’s under-resourced communities to pursue excellence in all facets of their lives, through a unique combination of competitive rowing and individualized academic support.
Start Small Think Big helps under-resourced entrepreneurs create thriving businesses in underserved areas so owners can build wealth for themselves, their families and communities by activating and engaging a top-tier network of professional volunteers who provide free, high-quality legal, financial and marketing services.
Thresholds provides healthcare, housing, and hope for thousands of persons with mental illnesses and substance use disorders in Illinois each year. Through care, employment, advocacy, and housing, Thresholds assists and inspires people with mental illnesses to reclaim their lives.
$2,500 Grant Award
Apex for Youth is a New York City community-based youth center that provides a breadth of structured activities to youth from underserved Asian and immigrant communities to promote and reinforce pro-social behavioral skills and leadership development.
Diyalo Foundation promotes community-led sustainable development in underserved areas in rural Nepal through education, renewable energy access, and community-supported sustainable agriculture.
International Justice Mission protects the poor from violence by partnering with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice systems throughout Africa, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Knock Knock Give a Sock is dedicated to collecting socks for those in need while working to eliminate the stigma around homelessness by bringing neighbors together to meet and share with one another.
Literacy Inc. engages families and community members to support young readers in high need neighborhoods in New York City.
Mark Pollock Trust is on a mission to fast-track a cure for paralysis by exploring the intersection where humans and technology collide, catalyzing collaborations that have never been done before, and unlocking $1 billion to make the cure a reality.
myFace is dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with facial differences and their families through the funding of medical, surgical, dental, speech and psychosocial services as well as research and public awareness.
One Summit builds resilience in kids battling cancer through indoor rock climbing with Navy SEALs, storytelling, and community engagement.
Opening Act gives high school students in underserved New York communities the opportunity to develop leadership, community, and commitment through its innovative, high quality, free after-school Theater Program.
The Chick Mission ensures cancer patients have a fertility future by educating the community about preservation options and working directly with healthcare practices to provide monetary, need-based grants to cover the cost of preservation.
Congratulations to all of our 10th Anniversary Grant Competition Winners!
