Coney Island Lighthouse Mission is dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty in the Coney Island community. They run a soup kitchen, food pantry and provide after school programming. The grant to Coney Island Lighthouse Mission will go towards their after-school program which began in 2007 and provides homework assistance and tutoring, hot snacks, games, art projects, and bible study for students aged 5-13 Monday-Friday.
Coney Island Cathedral is a longstanding church in the Coney Island community with over 900 members. The church’s sanctuary was devastated by Superstorm Sandy, but the Church has remained active as relief center and continuing to hold services on the second floor. The grant to Coney Island Cathedral will go towards supporting programs for seniors and also to support their dance program.
Masjid Bab-Salam USA Mosque was founded in Coney Island in 1994. The Mosque canvassed the community after Superstorm Sandy, and served as a relief center for storm victims. The grant to Masjid Bab-Salam will support afternoon and weekend programming.
Iglesia Pentecostal de Jesucristo “Cristo Viene” is a longstanding church in the Coney Island community established in 1959. The grant to Iglesia Pentecostal de Jesucristo will support several programs including tutoring, ESL, parenting skills and other classes.
Naomi A.M.E. Zion Church has been in existence for more than 100 years, serving generations of weddings, funerals, and community services to residents. The grant to Naomi Zion will support programming.
Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace was founded in 1900. The grant to Our Lady of Solace will go towards supporting their baseball team, including scholarships for students from the local community who are low-income and cannot afford league fees. Additionally, the grant will replace the baseball equipment ruined by Superstorm Sandy.
Salt and Sea Mission is a nonprofit faith-based organization that has been in Coney Island for over 26 years. Salt and Sea provides many services to the community and the grant will be used to support their efforts, including support for their food pantry. Salt and Sea Mission works closely with the undocumented population and provides support for many vulnerable populations.
Coney Island Gospel Assembly was founded 56 years ago. Serving as a major relief center after Sandy, CIGA continues to this day to provide food and supplies to the community and serve as a center for other organizations to co-locate and hold meetings and events. The grant to Coney Island Gospel Assembly will support the football program and youth programming.
This round of grants was overseen by the #ConeyRecovers Steering Committee, a locally-based oversight committee nominated by the #ConeyRecovers community collaborative to review regrant applications and oversee the distribution of grant funds into the community.
"We are grateful to the American Red Cross and the Brooklyn Community Foundation for allowing us to help Coney Island's faith-based organizations get back on their feet,” said Alliance for Coney Island Chairperson Dennis Vourderis. “Over a year later, many of Coney Island's churches, temples, and mosques are still reeling, even as they continue to serve their congregants. Given the complexities and challenges faced by these organizations in accessing government relief aid, we are very happy to be able to provide this financial assistance."
"Following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, Brooklyn's faith-based organizations have been a crucial partner in our communities' recovery– and they will continue to be important in ensuring our resiliency. The support of these regrants from #ConeyRecovers, sponsored by the Brooklyn Recovery Fund and the American Red Cross, will allow these organizations to continue their daily work on the ground supporting our impacted communities. From their diversity of perspectives and communities, we recover as One Brooklyn," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
"I applaud the American Red Cross and Brooklyn Recovery Fund for granting much-needed funding to various faith-based organizations in the Coney Island community. These organizations worked tirelessly in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy to provide immediate support and assistance for families that were struggling to recover. The grant funding will greatly benefit these houses of worship and help move our entire community forward,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8).
“Faith-based organizations across Brooklyn, and especially Coney Island, were among the first centers of aid and support for coastal communities in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy—critical work that they have carried on throughout the recovery,” said Brooklyn Community Foundation President and CEO Cecilia Clarke. “On behalf of the Brooklyn Recovery Fund founding partners, we salute their tireless efforts, as well as the entire #ConeyRecovers coalition for working together to ensure that Coney Island becomes stronger and more resilient for the future.”
“The American Red Cross is committed to helping people recover from Superstorm Sandy,” said Josh Lockwood, CEO, Red Cross Greater New York Region. “By partnering with the Brooklyn Recovery Fund, #ConeyRecovers and faith-based organizations working in affected communities, the Red Cross is helping ensure people, especially children, get the support they need during a challenging time.”
“Congratulations to Coney Island’s faith-based community for being awarded an $80,000 grant from the Alliance for Coney Island,” said Carlo A. Scissura, President & CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “These faith-based organizations – with support from the American Red Cross and the Brooklyn Recovery Fund – will do amazing work in rebuilding Coney Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Thank you Coney Island Lighthouse Mission, Coney Island Cathedral, Masjid Bab-Salam USA Mosque, Iglesia Pentecostal de Jesucristo, Naomi A.M.E. Zion Church, Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace, Salt and Sea Mission, and Coney Island Gospel Assembly for all that you do to improve the Coney Island community and those most in need. Thank you to the Alliance for Coney Island for all you have done in the wake of Sandy. We look forward to helping you make the People’s Playground bigger and better than ever.”
"I would like to thank the volunteer committee of local residents who helped make the selections for today's awards, as well as all of the awardees for the good work they continue to do in our community. Our recovery in Coney Island will not be complete until we have restored the faith by restoring our faith-based organizations," said Ruth Morales, #ConeyRecovers Community Coordinator.
The #ConeyRecovers community collaborative members include a wide range of nonprofits, tenant associations, service organizations, and individual residents and business owners involved in Coney Island’s ongoing recovery. Participating groups include Alliance for Coney Island, Amethyst Women’s Project, Astella Development Corporation, Brooklyn Community Services, Coney Island Community Council, Coney Island Generation Gap, Coney Island Gospel Assembly, Coney Island Hospital, C.I. Youth Alive, HeartShare Surfside Gardens Cornerstone Program, Iglesia Pentacostal de Jesucristo “Cristo Viene”, Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island, and Project Hope. For a full list of partner organizations, visit www.coneyrecovers.org/partners.
The Alliance for Coney Island established #ConeyRecovers as a relief initiative in the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Since its formation, #ConeyRecovers has mobilized efforts to assist the Coney Island community affect by Superstorm Sandy. Since launching in November 2012, the #ConeyRecovers initiative, staffed by the Alliance for Coney Island, has raised over $700,000 in private funds from foundations and individual donors, and has regranted funds to over 30 local community-based organizations, delivered microgrants to approximately 50 local businesses, coordinated over 3,000 volunteers, and hosted countless meetings and information sessions to bring much-needed resources to the Coney Island community. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.coneyrecovers.org.
About Alliance for Coney Island
The not-for-profit Alliance for Coney Island, Inc. is a private-public partnership dedicated to continuing the year-round renaissance of Coney Island. The Alliance represents local businesses, nonprofits, and the community, with support from Community Board 13, the New York City Council and the Brooklyn Borough President. More info at www.AllianceforConeyIsland.org.
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You can also view the press release here.
