ROSLYN, NY, July 16, 2023 – Since the 1983-1984 league year, The Junior League of Long Island (JLLI) has provided funding through Community Service Fund awards to local non-profit organizations that serve the Long Island Community and align with the Junior League of Long Island mission. Each year, applications submitted by local non-profits are reviewed by the JLLI Community Service Fund Committee headed up by the league’s finance director. This program is made possible through the league’s fundraising efforts, including our largest fundraiser – the Junior League of Long Island Thrift Shop located at 1395 Old Northern Boulevard in the heart of Roslyn, NY. We are pleased to announce that we have awarded seven organizations with awards for a total of $15,500.00 for the 2022 – 2023 league year program.  

Please read below about each organization and where the funds will be used.   

Allied Foundation  

Allied Foundation, Inc. was formed in 2015 by a group of concerned pediatric physicians from Allied Physicians Group who resolved to make a difference in the greater community by increasing access to essential resources within their patient populations. Their mission is to improve the health and well-being of people in our communities. Their efforts are focused on four pillars of purpose which include newborn support, community service, community education and early childhood literacy. They have been a community partner and past guest speaker for the members of the Junior League of Long Island this past year.  

Our award will support their Potty Independence Initiative, which help families with toddlers 2-3 years of age who struggle to afford the high cost of pull-up diapers and give toddlers the tools to help them build the bridge to potty independence, as well as their Period Project dedicated to support those who cannot afford the basic products required to manage their menstrual health. Specifically, our award will help them enhance their existing efforts by expanding their potty independence initiative with 100 potty kits and our period project with 100 pairs of period underwear. 

Belmont Childcare Association  

The Belmont Child Care Association, Inc. (BCCA), provides an early childhood education and development program at Anna House (BCCA’s main educational facility) located at Belmont Park for children between the ages of six weeks to five years old. The children are the sons and daughters of the New York Thoroughbred racing backstretch workers at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack, and Saratoga Racecourse. BCCA provides quality care and education 365 days (about 12 months) a year and provides after school tutoring and enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students. BCCA has been the beneficiaries of our most recent playground build and prior Community Service Fund recipient. 

Our award will help fund their Children’s Movement Program, which helps their students improve fine motor skills, social skills and listening skills. Their lacrosse program with the New York Riptide will run over the summer months as a clinic series for their school- age program and we are funding a portion of the expense to purchase of any necessary equipment. We will also help fund their summer virtual dance and yoga classes for toddlers – school age. 

The Book Faries Inc.  

Book Fairies sources and redistributes books to under resourced communities on Long Island and NYC to provide equitable opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive. They work with local volunteers and businesses to source and sort books and deliver them to those who need them via book fairs, ongoing deliveries, and custom orders. Since 2012, they have distributed more than 3.8 million books-increasing book access, supporting literacy, and fostering a love of reading. Book Faries is a partner of our Thrift Shop where excess donations of books are then given to Book Faries to support their mission.  

Our award will help fund their Long Island public bookshelves project, which increases book access Island-wide by supplying, maintaining, and refreshing book collections at public parks, LIRR stations, grocery stores, pediatric doctors’ offices, health centers, before and after-school programs, transitional housing, food pantries, women’s shelters, and community centers, especially targeting communities who have lacked access to books and face barriers in providing high-quality and age-appropriate books for their children. They will allocate 75% of the funds to key project staff and 25% to the space where we sort books for this project. Our award will enable the distribution of 3,500 books to Long Islanders. 

CYO of Long Island  

CYO has been providing youth programs throughout Long Island for more than 60 years. Each year over 25,000 children participate in a variety of programs including basketball, chess, volleyball, track, swimming, flag football, field hockey, bowling, art, STEAM, community service and others. The benefits of an active lifestyle have been well documented – improved mental and physical health; better grades in school; life lessons in teamwork, discipline, and hard work through participation in group activities. Families and their children build a deeper sense of community through CYO programs. CYO provides these services in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner respecting the culture and faith of all. 

Our award will be used to establish a Junior League of Long Island Scholarship Program that will allow 16 children, whose families are struggling financially, to participate in a season of athletic, social or academic activity thanks to a $150 scholarship per child. 

One World Girl  

One World Girl is a nonprofit organization that equips girls to become changemakers through arts-based learning and community action. OWG has built a roster of programming, offered to elementary – high school girls in the New York Metropolitan area, with participants coming primarily from Nassau County, Long Island. They welcome girls from diverse backgrounds and experiences to learn from one another, build leadership skills, and explore ways to heal divisiveness in their communities and the world. 

Our award will support the continuation and expansion of their signature program, The Changemakers Council, that serves 25-30 young women in 7th – 12th grade. When girls join The Changemakers Council, they make a substantial commitment of time and energy to participate in all of the year-long council program elements. The funds from JLLI will be used for the yearly costs of program materials, art supplies, curriculum development, workshop speakers, Broadway tickets and other creative outings, food, travel, staff, office expenses and a small budget for each council member to cover expenses incurred during their Take Action projects, specifically the costs to implement the Long Island-based projects. 

Lynn’s Warriors  

Lynn’s Warriors is a non-profit with a mission to end slavery and sexual exploitation by raising awareness through media and grassroots mobilization, advocacy, education, and policy. This last league year their founder provided us with an informative presentation on the topic imploring how with community outreach we can help prevent the further spread of sexual exploration across Long Island and New York. This initiative is also supported by NYSPAC which 12 other Junior Leagues are members of.  

Our award will be used for community outreach focused on digital safety. This includes tutorials, lectures, and Warrior Workshop presentations to concerned parents and caregivers, organizations, and schools. Our funds will help cover travel expenses, presentation materials, handouts and Warrior swag. 

Women’s Diversity Network  

The Women’s Diversity Network connects and mobilizes women and gender-expansive people of different backgrounds to create positive change through unity and collective work. Areas of focus are health, wealth, gender and racial equity, and youth leadership development. The goals of the WDN are 1) educating our communities about issues and policies that challenge our unity, 2) advocating collectively to break down barriers for improved inclusion and advocacy for all, and 3) celebrating our diverse backgrounds. 

Our award will help fund their Youth Justice Leadership Program, a 7-month long virtual program for students in grades 9-12. This program, designed to inspire students to become leaders and active changemakers. Students develop skills and knowledge that are not taught in traditional classrooms, earn community service hours, meet and build friendships with other young people, and develop leadership skills in a fun, exciting way that helps them at school, in their community, and in their future careers. Specifically, our funding toward this program will provide 25 youth with a unique leadership development opportunity and will cover program administration, facilitators, guest speakers, stipends for student-led projects, awards, and travel expenses for youth leaders to attend the in person Annual Diversity Summit. 

If you wish for further information about the Community Service Fund, please contact us at info@jlli.org. For more details on JLLI Happenings including training opportunities and other community projects please visit us at www.jlli.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @JuniorLeagueLI.  

About the Junior League of Long Island®  

The Junior League of Long Island is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Tracing its origins to 1951, the Junior League of Long Island has nearly 200 members in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Headquartered in the Village of Roslyn, the Junior League of Long Island is affiliated with the Association of Junior Leagues International® an organization of 293 Leagues throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and England. The Junior League of Long Island is designated as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Our purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.