Wednesday, September 17, 2014
The Elmezzi Foundation Pledges $3 Million to Help End Generational Poverty in Astoria and Long Island City
Zone 126 has announced the continued support of the Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation with a new five year $3M pledge. This support is aimed to provide interim backing of Zone 126 infrastructure needs while the organization advances fundraising outcomes from other sources. The Elmezzi Foundation has invested over $2M in Zone 126 since 2011. Through this award, Zone 126 aims to add collective impact partnerships that provide diverse programs that cover the entire spectrum of cradle-to-career. By the end of 2015, Zone 126 will provide services to more than 1,000 children and families, with the goal of deepening our impact in 2016 and beyond.
More than 20,000 families in zip codes 11101, 11102, and 11106 in Astoria and Long Island City are living in poverty, including more than 8,000 children. To break the inter-generational cycle of poverty, Zone 126 collaborates across sectors and directly with diverse program providers, including arts education for students, ESL classes for parents, early childhood education, and health and nutrition services for the whole family. Ultimately, its vision is for every child in Astoria/Long Island City to graduate from high school and attain the necessary post-graduate credentials needed to thrive in the 21st century....