The impact of COVID-19 has placed many CCS Grantees on the front lines of providing aid to our most vulnerable neighbors in Morningside Heights and Harlem. Your donation ensures crucial support for grants that help our community partners continue their critical work.
Columbia Community Service (CCS) seeks to foster just and thriving communities by advancing the work of community-based organizations. An initiative supported by Columbia, Barnard College, and Teachers College, CCS has engaged our university communities to strengthen organizations serving the needs of individuals and families living in Morningside Heights and Harlem.
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Making a Difference
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Slide 1: Columbia Community Service grantees of the 79th Annual Appeal. Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
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Slide 2: The intimate reception was standing room only as grantees were welcomed to Columbia’s Lee C. Bollinger Forum. Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
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Slide 3: Carrie Walker, out-going chair of the CCS Steering Committee, thanked the CCS grantees for their valuable work, highlighted the impact of their commitment over the years, and introduced two new grantees, Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program and Uptown Lacrosse. Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
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Slide 4: Felicia Ganthier, executive director and Michael Murray, managing director of programs at Harlem Lacrosse, NY shared the impact of the partnership with the Columbia Women’s Lacrosse team led by Anne Murray, head lacrosse coach and students, Maddie Goger and Eliza Ekstrand. Photo by Siobhan Mullan
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Slide 5: Mary Rocco, director, Community Engagement and Inclusion at Barnard College, and Paula Seefeldt, executive director of Lifeforce in Later Years (LiLY) spoke about how a quilt that was created by the team at LiLY and Barnard alumna Carter Watts (BC’25), and a long-time LiLY volunteer, was included in the exhibition “Weaving Dreams” at Barnard’s Milstein Learning Center. Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
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Slide 6: The quilt that was on display in the “Weaving Dreams” exhibition at Barnard College.
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Slide 7: CCS Director Joan Griffith-Lee highlighted the power of community engagement and the partnerships that have been established between all three institutions and CCS grantees. Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
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Slide 8: Bruce Lincoln of Uptown Lacrosse, a new CCS grantee that is committed to shaping the next generation of athletes and leaders by promoting sportsmanship, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
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Slide 9: Attendees learned about the impact of the partnership the Civic Fellows at Teachers College has established with The Community Initiatives of NY, from Janet Cohen, program director, Charron Davis, executive director of the Reading Team, Inc., and Jimmy McCue, PhD Student, Teachers College. Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
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Slide 10: Marcia Stepanek, CEO and principal, BrandStories gave a presentation on the New Rules for Nonprofits: 7 Ways to Navigate from Chaos to Clarity (and Cash). Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
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Slide 11: Lynda Hamilton (right) of Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program, a new CCS grantee whose education and wellness programs develop the whole child in sports, school, and life, is pictured with Yenexis Ricardo, the community outreach and engagement AmeriCorps member. Photo by Siobhan Mullan.
Donations from 450 faculty, staff, and retirees of Columbia, Barnard, and Teachers College funded almost $250,000 in grants to 47 local nonprofits serving Harlem and Morningside Heights.
Community Impact at Columbia University marked 45 years of service with one of its most inspiring honoree classes yet, including the longtime Director of Columbia Community Service.
At this time of the year, our food supply is critically low and food items such as canned meats, vegetables, soups, and pasta, which can be used to make a quick meal, are needed.
Your Donation Is Essential
Since 1945, CCS has led an annual appeal campaign among employees with 100% of the donations used to fund grants for nonprofit institutions experienced in building sustainable programs. So much can be accomplished when you contribute and we pool our resources. Over the past two years, grant awards have supported programs for:
1,000 youth participated in Graham Windham's Manhattanville programs for dance, team sports, and STEM instruction
400 residents enjoyed a season of performances by The Harlem Chamber Players
Over 100 meals served to elderly clients, suffering from severe and life-long mental illness, of Services for Older People
Westside Campaign Against Hunger served 11,375 individuals in Central Harlem, East Harlem, and Morningside Heights.