Family Services of Westchester’s Junior Board Announces Four New Grants, Totaling $2,000, to Youth and Family Programs

Port Chester, NY- Family Services of Westchester (FSW), a private, not-for-profit agency that has been providing social and mental health services to families and children in Westchester County since 1954, announced today that its Junior Board has awarded four grants totaling $2,000 to FSW programs that provide critical social services to youth and families across the county.   In just two years, the Junior Board has raised over $40,000 and has handed out nearly $25,000 in grants to FSW programs through its Youth Enrichment Fund.

Founded in January 2011, the FSW Junior Board is a group of young professionals and emerging leaders residing in Westchester County who are dedicated to promoting FSW’s mission and increasing awareness of the organization’s youth programs through a variety of educational, recreational and service initiatives. The Junior Board’s Youth Enrichment Fund provides targeted, supplemental funding to FSW’s youth and family programs.  Below are highlights of the new grants awarded to benefit hundreds of children and families in Westchester.        

• Adoptive Parents Conference – This grant will allow FSW’s Adoption & Children’s Services (A&CS) staff to participate on a workshop panel at the Adoptive Parents Committee Annual Conference. A&CS is committed to finding permanency for children in foster care, who are available for adoption from the foster care system.  A&CS staff will be part of this day-long conference, which will enable them to promote their services to approximately 500 families interested in adoption.
• Social Enrichment for School-Aged Children – FSW’s Social Skills Program provides weekly group therapy for children age 6-13 at the Echo Hills Clinic in Hastings-on-Hudson. The therapy sessions support children who have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and other diagnoses that can cause difficulty in social situations, such as ADHD, and sensory integration difficulties.
• A Star is Born in the Therapeutic Foster Care Program – This grant will allow the FSW’s Therapeutic Foster Care program to purchase tickets to theatrical performances providing an opportunity for the children to be exposed to enriching cultural events.
• Family Program to NYC Landmarks – This grant supports two educational and recreational trips for children and their parents who are part of the Fathers Count Family Program. Fathers Count is FSW’s program providing supportive services to fathers who are on probation, parole or about to be released from the County Department of Corrections.  The trips will be to the Central Park Zoo and the Aquarium in New York City.

“Today’s announcement makes me extremely proud of the continued efforts of the Youth Enrichment Fund.  These grants will positively impact FSW youth and families throughout the County,” stated Karen Beatty, Chair of the Junior Board of FSW.

About the Junior Board of FSW

The Junior Board of Family Services of Westchester (FSW) is comprised of volunteers who support the Board of Directors and promote the mission of FSW through educational, fundraising and service initiatives.  As a group of community-minded and philanthropic young professionals and emerging leaders, the Junior Board helps to raise FSW’s visibility as well as identify and connect resources to the organization. Those interested in becoming involved with the Junior Board, should contact Gerry Goldberg at 914-305-6834 or ggoldberg@fsw.org.

FSW was founded in 1954 and runs more than 50 social service and mental health programs for all ages, including Head Start, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Adult and Youth Residences and Veterans Outeach and Support. Visit www.fsw.org for more information.