New Funds for New York API Nonprofits
Money will boost community programs
By Heather Harlan

Josie Atienza had for years dreamt of starting a community center forNew York City’s growing population of Filipino Americans. When she joined Filipino American Human Services Inc (FAHSI) three years ago, though, a lack of resources forced the local nonprofit to share offices with other organizations and hold activities in other community centers and churches. “It just wasn’t conducive to delivering services,” said Atienza, FAHSI’s current executive director.

But now with the help of a $10,000 seed grant from the Asian American Federation of New York (AAFNY), Atienza’s vision has become a reality. This summer the city’s first secular Filipino American community center will open it’s doors in Jamaica, Queens. The center will function in partnership between FAHSI and another Filipino group, the Ilocano American Association. The center will house academic support services, counseling, recreation, as well as cultural workshops and other projects, Atienza said.

“Filipinos are the fourth largest Asian American group in New York City,” she added. “About half live in Queens. This center will enable us to have a home base at a neighborhood site.”

The new community center is just one of a dozen new programs that are being funded this year through the Asian American Federation of New York’s Asian American Community Fund. AAFNY, an umbrella group of 34 local health and human service organizations, awards the competitive grants annually to member groups. With support for this year’s Asian American Community Fund grants from Avon Products Foundation Inc., the C.J. Huang Foundation, Time Warner Inc, the United Way of New York City and the Federation’s annual gala, AAFNY announced this year’s award recipients on April 25.

“The amount distributed varies according to how much is fundraised each year,” said Rosalie Sanchez, Program Director for AAFNY. This year, a total of $100,000 was distributed. “That’s about average,” she said.

“We’ve re-invested nearly $1 million in the community since 1993,” said Cao K. O., AAFNY’s executive director. “Providing financial support to community groups is integral to the Federation’s mission. We provide them with the resources—training, management assistance, technology, and sometimes grants—to sustain and expand human services to Asian Pacific Americans.”

The recipients of this years grants include: Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian and Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS Inc., Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, Filipino American Human Services Inc., and Hamilton-Madison House. Other organizations awarded are: Japanese American Social Services Inc., Korean American Senior Citizens Counseling Center, New York Asian Women’s Center, refugee Women Council, South Asian Youth Action, the Chinatown branch of the YMCA of Greater New York and the Flushing branch of the YWCA of the City of New York.

At Hamilton-Madison House, a social services organization on the edge of Manhattan’s Chinatown, an AAFNY grant will be used to support education programs for immigrant Chinese women. “The Community Fund will allow us to continue to provide Chinese women with English and computer classes that help build a foundation for future professional and personal success,” said Frank T. Modica, Hamilton-Madison House’s executive director. “By developing these vital skills, the women will be able to increase their job opportunities while becoming more active members of the community.”

Japanese-American Social Services, Inc., (JASSI) will use the funds to start Housing 101, aimed at educating the Japanese community about rent regulations, leases and tenant’s rights. “With this grant, the federation has acknowledged the existence of an unmet need in the community,” said Mari Sakaji, executive director of JASSI.