Transportation For Roosevelt Island Disabled Just Got A Whole Lot Better - RIDA Announces Purchase Of New Bus To Take Members to Events, Cultural Activities, Shopping & More

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) has a new bus to transport it's members on trips for shopping, cultural activities and events of all kinds on Roosevelt Island and elsewhere in the NYC area.

RIDA President Wendy Hersh reported last Saturday:

Exciting day today. Long time coming and a lot of hard work...but I am picking up the newer RIDA bus today...newer, cleaner and safe!!!

and later on Saturday:

So HURRAY...we finally got the bus!! We are on our way back to the Island.

Ms Hersh adds today:

The bus is a 2014 with very, very low mileage. It has 10 permanent seats, 3 flip seats and can accommodate up to 3 wheelchairs.

We researched many bus seller companies and this one company on Long Island really worked with me to give us what we needed. And I would be amiss if I did not give a shout out to RIOC (Susan Rosenthal, Cy Opperman and Joe Marino) for all of their assistance in checking out the buses for me and assisting me with finding the most appropriate and cost effective bus.

The old bus had become unsafe and trips and services were severely limited over the holidays. We will continue to use the bus to transport our members for shopping and cultural trips as well as to events. We will also use it to transport disabled members of our community during Island events.

Although our members were a little disappointed over the holidays as our trips were limited due to the poor condition of our old bus, we were still able to provide them with some holiday events on our Island. I promised our members a new bus and as one member said yesterday upon seeing the new bus,"you really kept your promise ". It meant alot to me to be able to make this happen.

Part of our 2019-20 RIOC Public Purpose Funds grant was awarded for this. We also had to redistribute some of our funds that were for other activities in order to be able to afford this since we did not get any other outside assistance. It was a great price for what it is but still more than we expected. We had reached out to some politicians but received no assistance. It may be a little tough getting through until our next grant, but we will continue to provide our members with services.

A RIDA member thanked Ms Hersh for all her hard work to get the new bus.

Thank you Wendy for all you have done to get the van. It's. A beauty and well deserved . May God bless every trip we take.

Here's Ms Hersh describing the programs and services offered by RIDA, including the need for a new bus, to the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Puble Purpose Funds Committee last May seeking recommendation for the RIOC Public Purpose Fund grant.



RIDA received $33 Thousand in 2019 RIOC Public Purpose Funds.

Happy Travels RIDA!!!!!

10 Roosevelt Island Non Profit Organizations To Receive Share Of $150 Thousand In RIOC Public Purpose Funds - RIOC Board Of Directors Voting Today On RIRA Recommendations, Check Out Who Got What

Among the items on agenda for today's Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors meeting is:

8. Authorization of Expenditure of the Public Purpose Funds for Fiscal Year 2019-20 (Board
Action Required)

Below is June 18 RIOC memo in support of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) recommendations for allocating $150 thousand in Public Purpose Funds to 10 Roosevelt Island non-profit organizations.

Attached please find the Roosevelt Island Resident Association (“RIRA”) recommended Public Purpose Grant awards for the fiscal year 2019‐20. RIRA conducted evaluations through its Public Purpose Funds Committee (“Committee”). The Committee took into account information in the applications, as well as information provided by each applicant at a public interview session. The Committee also considered the extent to which the program or project demonstrated benefits to the community, as well as whether the applicant would be able to carry out their proposed project if Public Purpose Funds were awarded.

The table below summarizes the committee’s recommendations:

Based upon the foregoing, I recommend the Board’s approval of Public Purpose Grants along the lines and purposes reflected in RIRA’s recommendations.

and the RIRA recommendations rationale summary for each non-profit organization:

The RIRA Common Council’s PPF Committee reviewed the RIOC-provided applications of ten Island 501c(3) organizations seeking funds for their respective programs. The Common Council approved the attached report during the week of June 10th, 2019.

Voting for PPF Recommendations Approved

Yes 15

No 0

Abstentions 2

Not Voting for Cause 5

No response 4

We continue to hope that future funds availed will be at or close to three percent of the RIOC operating budget as allowed in NY legislation and approved by Governor Cuomo . As evidenced by this and prior reports, qualified Island 501c non-profits continue to lack funds sufficient to fully meet their goals beneficial to the Island.

Please note that the PPF Committee has made a special recommendation for the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association.

It is with pleasure that we provide you the funding recommendations for your review and approval.
Further, we thank RIOC for its continued support to the community and for allowing the RIRA-Common Council to provide inputs to the PPF process.

Warm regards,

Dave Evans PPF Committee Chair
Members: Erin Feely-Nahem, Shirley Coley, Enequea Lewis)

Lynne Shinozaki
President, Roosevelt Island Residents Association

Roosevelt Island Residents Association – Common Council

FY 2019 – 2020 Summary of Public Purpose Fund (PPF) Committee Funding Recommendations Date Committee Finalized (June 5, 2019)/RIRA/Common Council Approved – June !3, 2019

PS/IS 217 Parent Teachers Association (PTA)

Amount Requested: $31,550 (Prior $33,500)

Amount Recommended: $13,000 (Prior $15,500)

Committee Decision and Recommendation: Funds are only for: (1) primarily the Middle School Enrichment Residency (Salvadori Center) for 6th/7th grade students and (2) some support for the Hawks wrestling team.

The PTA remains an active supporter of PS-IS/217. The PPF Committee believes that in order to retain students in the middle school, additional enhancements are required. The Salvadori Center adds value, especially the focus on 6th and 7th grade students. The goal is aimed at enhancing their understanding of mathematics concepts through hands-on project based learning. This will be valuable to these students as they transition to the next grade levels. Further, the fact of the Hawks wrestling program resonated with the committee. Overall, it is hoped the broad PTA fund raising efforts will help enhance the ability to retain students at the school.

Life Frames, Inc.

Amount Requested: $27,150 (Prior $27,150)

Amount Recommended: $13,500 (Prior $11,250)

Committee Decision and Recommendation: The funds recommended are to help support the continuation of the Life Frames program on the Island.

The Life Frames program has a long, noteworthy history on the Island. It avails gardening activities beneficial to children of all ages. Parental support is available, and observations confirm that many children participate in the gardening activities, often seen on a plot north of the Blackwell house. More so, as noted in its application, the program also offers gardening to adults of all ages and capabilities. Such inclusiveness is part of the mosaic fabric of life on our Roosevelt Island.

Wildlife Freedom Foundation (WFF)

Amount Requested: $10,000 (Prior Yr: $10000)

Amount Recommended: $10,000 (Prior Yr: $9750)

Committee Decision and Recommendation: The funds recommended are to provide help to the WFF in performing its mission, i.a., of rescuing, assisting, and rehabilitating stray animals on Roosevelt Island.

The WFF seeks to increase its capacity to help various types of stray animals on the Island. It is led by an energetic and caring individual. The animals (strays, abandoned, homeless – dogs, cats, birds, etc.) are treated as needed, some at great expense, at all hours. Some of the work effort, depending upon the situation, is coordinated with the Public Service Department led by a caring Chief and his Deputy. WFF is basically active/on call 24/7 and much appreciated on the Island.

Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVAA)

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Roosevelt Island 2019 Public Purpose Grants Community Review Process May 28 Thru 30 Announced By RIOC Today - Up To $150 Thousand Available To 10 Local Non Profit Groups, Public Invited To Attend And Ask Questions

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) announced this afternoon that the Public Purpose Grant Community review process will start tonight thru Thursday May 30

The RIOC announcement advised:

Please be advised that public sessions of the 2019 Public Purpose Grant Community Review Process for applicant proposed programs and projects will be conducted at the Good Shepherd Community Center, 543 Main Street, beginning this evening, Tuesday, May 28th at 7 PM, and continuing on Wednesday, May 29th and Thursday, May 30th.

The presentations are open to the public and will be an opportunity to learn more about the programs and projects from community groups who are seeking funding. At the conclusion of each presentation, time will be reserved for questions and answers by public attendees and members of the Roosevelt Island Resident Association’s Public Purpose Grant Committee.

Presentation Schedule:

Tue., May 28, 2019

7:00 - 7:15 PM: PS/IS 217

7:15 - 7:30 PM: Open Space Institute

7:30 - 7:45 PM: Life Frames

7:45 - 8:00 PM: RI Disabled Association

8:00 - 8:15 PM: Island Kids


Wed., May 29, 2019

7:00 - 7:15 PM: Carter Burden Network

7:15 - 7:30 PM: RI Historical Society

7:30 - 7:45 PM: RIVAA

7:45 - 8:00 PM: Wildlife Freedom Foundation

8:00 - 8:15 PM: Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance

For more information, please call 212-832-4540. General concerns about grant funds and applicants should be directed to muneshwar.jagdharry@rioc.ny.gov, with a copy to David Evans, evansde23@hotmail.com.

RIOC Chief Financial Officer John O'Reilly adds:

There is $150,000 in Grants available for distribution this year. That amount does not included “in-kind” grants, RIOC land/space used for no charge by the non-profits during the year, such as the Cultural Center, Octagon Tennis courts, Youth Center, Garden Club, etc.

According to RIOC:

Public Purpose Grants first became available after the construction of Manhattan Park in 1989, when New York State allowed the fund to be established in lieu of the developers paying sales tax on construction materials. The RIOC Board of Directors approves the allocation of these funds yearly based upon the recommendation of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA). Not-for-profit community organizations are welcome to apply for a Public Purpose Grant by following the application process below.

Public Purpose Grants should be allocated to benefit Roosevelt Island residents, enhancing their quality of life through education, artistic and cultural enrichment, improved health, or a better environment....

More info on Public Purpose Grants available at RIOC web site and prior post.