Phillips Charitable Foundation is excited to announce three recent grants to nonprofits serving those who are economically disadvantaged, one of our major areas of focus. We look for projects and programs that help people escape the cycle of poverty, equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and opportunities needed to build a better future.
These three grantees are also small community-based nonprofits. We intentionally look for those that are deeply connected to their communities and possess an intimate understanding of local challenges and needs. This enables them to be highly effective in implementing targeted solutions. The volunteers and staff at these “small and mighty” nonprofits are often unsung heroes of local community improvement. This describes each of these three organizations.
Bottomless Closet
New York
Bottomless Closet in New York was awarded with a $10,000 grant for their Self-Sufficiency Workshop Program. The Bottomless Closet team provides a variety of education and assistance to help disadvantaged New York City women feel confident, prepared, and empowered to ace their job interviews, start a new job, and begin their journey to self-sufficiency.
The Self-Sufficiency Workshop Program, called Upskill at Home, includes workshops in the areas of financial management, digital literacy, professional development, and personal enrichment. “We are helping clients work towards self-sufficiency” explained Yvonee Cassidy, Development Director at Bottomless Closet. “There’s more to it than just finding a job.”
This wide range of services is something we especially admire about Bottomless Closet.
Patricia Napolitano, our Director of Grants and Due Diligence, recently visited Bottomless Closet. She presented the grant check to Yvonne Cassidy along with Melissa Norden, Executive Director of Bottomless Closet.
“Visiting the Bottomless Closet space gives you a sense that these women take the whole person into consideration when assisting them in their career search” she described. The staff at Bottomless Closet get to know the little things about their clients to help them overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. “The bright, sunny space and friendly faces are a great start to any job search,” said Ms. Napolitano after her visit.
Hope to Home Furniture Resource
South Carolina
Photo to Left: Hope to Home Volunteers
Hope to Home was awarded a $10,000 grant to fund the purchase of mattresses and related needs. Hope to Home collects, stores, repairs, and delivers basic home furnishings to families who are coming out of distressed situations and striving toward a new life on purpose. They work with local community service agencies to get the home furnishings into the hands of those who need them most, at no cost to the recipient. Most of their recipients are moving from homelessness, domestic violence, or human trafficking. Hope to Home volunteers turn an empty house into a fully furnished home. This alleviates so much stress for these families, enabling them to focus on other important needs and goals.
Although most items are donated, Hope to Home purchases brand-new mattresses and related bedding. They’ve experienced tremendous growth in the need for mattresses and bedding. The grant from PCF will help fund this increasing need.
Walk the Walk Foundation
Maryland
Walk the Walk Foundation was awarded a $5,000 grant for their Diapers for Babies program. Walk the Walk has experienced increasing demand for diapers and related items and is striving to extend the reach and impact of its program. Diapers can be quite expensive. By providing this basic necessity, families are able to direct their limited resources to other necessities like food, rent, utilities, and healthcare.
The Diapers for Babies program plays an important role in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the youngest members of a vulnerable population and we’re proud to continue our support for these efforts.
Congratulations to each of these grantees. We admire your dedication and your focus on solving problems in your local community.
