 The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce runs two of the oldest and largest street fairs in New York City, the 2nd and 3rd Avenue Community Benefit Festivals. The profits from these large events are deposited into the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce's Community Benefit Fund (CBF). Grant applications are sent out to the district's non-profit agencies who then apply for funding from the CBF for programs directly affecting Community Board 8 area---from E. 59th St. to E. 96th St. from 5th Ave. to the East River.
"The purpose of these popular street fairs is to support a wide-range of community programs in Community Board District 8,” said Don Winter, Chamber Chairman. “Each year, event proceeds are used to support health, welfare, social and cultural projects in the area.”
To date, the Chamber has given over $2,000,000 back to the community. Every August, nonprofit organizations in the Community Board 8 district are invited to apply for MCC Community Benefit Fund monies. Applications are due at the end of October. Actual grant monies are distributed in December of each year.
An additional $10,000 is given each year to the new Eleanor Roosevelt High School on Manhattan’s Upper East Side to help establish their college prep office.
In addition, the Community Benefit Raffle Ticket Program helps nonprofit organizations to enhance their projects. Proceeds to the organizations traditionally range from $59,000-$75,000 per year in total.
Year 2004 grant recipients include:
- Asphalt Green
- Scouts of Central Presbyterian Church
- Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College
- Burden Center for the Aging
- The Caring Neighbor, Inc
- Children’s Advocacy Center of Manhattan
- The Children’s Aid Society/Rhinelander Children’s Center
- Church of the Holy Trinity
- Dicapo Opera Theatre Corporation
- The Doe Fund
- Elder Craftsmen, Inc.
- Eviction Intervention Services
- The Friends of P.S. 169, The Robert F. Kennedy School
- Holy Trinity Neighborhood Center
- Interfaith Neighbors, Inc.
- Inwood House
- Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
- Mirror Repertoire Company
- Mount Vernon Hotel Museum (former Abigail Adams Smith Museum)
- National Academy of Design
- Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter
- New York Jr. Tennis League, Inc.
- The New York Public Library
- NYC Tree Consortium, Inc.
- 92nd Street YM-YWHA
- Roosevelt Island Disabled Association
- Roosevelt Island Seniors Association
- Roosevelt Island Youth Program, Inc.
- Search & Care, Inc.
- Spanish Theatre Repertory Ltd.
- Stanley M. Isaacs Park Association, Inc.
- Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, Inc.
- St. John the Martyr
- Suitability
- Turtle Bay Music School
- Yorkville Common Pantry
- Young People’s Chorus of NY
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