NYC Council Member Ben Kallos Allocates Discretionary Funds To Roosevelt Island Organizations - Others Missed Application Deadline Out Of Luck For Now

The distribution of discretionary funds

Image From NY Post

by NYC Council Members was the subject of this DNA Info article yesterday:

...  Discretionary funds, distributed by Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, are given to each member with the intention of supporting local nonprofit organizations. Mark-Viverito overhauled the process for fiscal year 2015, which runs from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 — giving every council member $660,000, plus additional funds for representatives of more impoverished districts.

Each council member was given $400,000 in base funding, plus $110,000 for aging initiatives and $150,000 for youth programs. They were then allocated an extra $25,000, $50,000, $75,000 or $100,000 based on the poverty level in their district, as determined by 2012 American Community Survey data....

What Roosevelt Island nonprofit organizations received NYC Council discretionary funding? I asked Roosevelt Island/Upper East Side NYC Council member Ben Kallos:

I am preparing story on Roosevelt Island organizations that received NYC Council funding from the Kallos office and those that did not.

I am aware of these organizations that have received funding and amounts. Is the list accurate?

Roosevelt Island Seniors 30,000
ISLAND KIDS 15,000
Junior Tennis League 10,000
Child School 5,000
Four Freedoms Park 10,000

TOTAL $70,000

Did any other Roosevelt Island organization receive funding?

I suspect the Roosevelt Island Disabled Organization, Roosevelt Island Historical Society and Roosevelt Island Youth Program may not be happy being left out of funding.

I am also told that several organizations were not informed by your office about deadlines for applying for the funds....

A spokesperson for Mr. Kallos confirmed that the Roosevelt Island organization funding list above was correct and added that:

• Roosevelt Island's PS 217 was granted $225,000 in capital funding and $20,000 in expense funding,
• Bike New York was granted $5000 and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House $15,000, both of whom will use the funds in part for Roosevelt Island-specific programming and
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts was granted $5,000.00 entirely for programming at PS 217.

Mr. Kallos adds:

We engaged in aggressive outreach via email blasts and phone calls to inform the Roosevelt Island and East Side communities about discretionary funding opportunities and deadlines. We funded every Roosevelt Island group that applied, and the amounts were equal to or more than the amounts they received last year. From what I know, Roosevelt Island Disabled Association, Roosevelt Island Historical Society, and Roosevelt Island Youth Program do valuable work serving the Roosevelt Island community, and I strongly encourage them to apply for funding next year.

Click here to view a chart showing how each NYC Council Member distributed their discretionary funds to local nonprofit organizations. According to the chart, Roosevelt Island organizations received funds for these purposes:

Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA) $ 30,000

To support programming and classes for seniors, including tai Chi ,Zumba, building strength, art, Spanish, salsa, yoga stretch, and yoga for the mind.

Child School-Legacy High School $ 5,000

To provide funding for supplemental reading and math programs, to include both materials and initial and ongoing training for school staff, which will assist in remediation and skill improvement for students.

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy $ 10,000

To support programs that will help engage the public in an appreciation of the FDR Four Freedoms Park and President Roosevelt’s life and legacy including the return of Yoga classes; a Family Arts Workshop series; Music of Freedom, featuring programs by the American Wind Symphony on the Louis I. Kahn-design Floating Arts Center, The Amigos, and at least two other artists; Story Hour with actors, librarians, and educators; a lecture/reading series with distinguished scholars; and the development of school-based curriculum around the lessons of the Four Freedoms.

Island Kids $ 15,000

To support the Summer Camp program. Funds will be used to offset the costs associated with additional space rental, insurance, art and sports supplies, as well as costs related to expanding the science program to include an animal education component.

New York Junior Tennis League $ 10,000

To provide free recreational tennis and educational programs for beginner andintermediate players, ages 5-18 years in district five during the summer, fall, winter or spring

Bike New York, Inc. $5,000

To provide free educational programming includes after school programs, summer camp programs, weekend classes and school assembly programs. Requested funding will be used to purchase equipment, maintain equipment and the cost for instructors.

Public School 217 - $20,000

School residencies such as Ballroom Dancing, Yoga, Salvadori Center/ urban planning, NY Historical Society, STUDIO in a School, Drama and Character development.

DOE - PS 217 - The Roosevelt Island School $225,000

Technology update to further support the STEM programs that will be incorporated into the curriculums. Need of updated Active Boards, computers, laptops, smart devices ie. tablets, ipads, chrome books, and document cameras.

The NYC Council Budget Database lists these Roosevelt Island organizations receiving discretionary funds last year from former Council Member Jessica Lappin.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society $5,000 Lappin Local
To support lectures and tours of Roosevelt Island, operation of the RIHS Visitor Center Kiosk, and for archival research and other programming for visitors and scholars

Roosevelt Island Youth Program, Inc. $10,000 Lappin Youth
To support and expand youth Music Program.

Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA, Inc.) $28,000 Lappin Aging
To support programming and classes for seniors, including Tai Chi, Yoga, Zumba, weight training, art, and dance.

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association $6,000 Lappin Aging
To provide transportation for all disabled tenants of Roosevelt Island to attend concerts, plays, sporting events and other events and activities.

New York Junior Tennis League, Inc. $10,000 Lappin Youth
To provide free recreational tennis and educational programs for beginner and intermediate players, ages 5-18 in the council member's district. Loaner racquets and balls will be provided to all participants. Special events, team tennis tournaments, and trips are a regular part of the program.

Island Kids  $5,000 Lappin Youth
To support the Summer Camp program. Funds will be used to offset the costs associated with additional space rental, insurance, art and sports supplies, as well as costs related to expanding our science program to include an animal education component.

Capital New York has more on the NYC Council discretionary funding process.