Causes We Support

The Coalition for the Homeless 

Residing in New York City, it pains me to see so many homeless citizens living on the streets. I often see the same men and women residing near the subway entrances in my neighborhood. It is evident that the homeless population has been hit hard by the pandemic, especially since shelters have become overcrowded and social distancing has become a challenge. Many people experiencing homelessness may also have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. This, in addition with deleterious social determinants of health and inadequate access to quality medical care, makes the homeless a particularly vulnerable population during the pandemic.

The following excerpt is from the Coalition for the Homeless website:

“As of June 1st, the overall New York City mortality rate due to COVID-19 was 200 deaths per 100,000 people. For sheltered homeless New Yorkers, it was 321 deaths per 100,000 people – or 61 percent higher than the New York City rate.”

The Coalition for the Homeless is a not-for-profit group that has a number of outreach programs, including advocacy services, housing assistance, crisis services, food services, job training, and youth services. One of their greatest contributions took place in 1979 when they won a legal battle that gave New Yorkers the right to have shelter.

The Coalition’s goal is to combat homelessness by providing people with temporary housing in shelters and ultimately permanent housing, all the while connecting them with the resources to eventually obtain a stable income. I feel strongly about achieving this goal and I hope to continue to do my part in helping the homeless and assisting my community.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

 

Parkinson’s Disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder which causes tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement which worsen over time. It may also cause cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression. The disease results from the death of cells in the brain which produce Dopamine.

My grandfather Sandy passed away from Parkinson’s disease. He was truly a role model for kindness and generosity, not to mention a lot of fun! He would stop and give money to almost every homeless person he saw on the street. He loved New York City and taught us the beauty of embracing everybody’s differences.

In his memory, we support The Michael J.Fox Foundation which is racing to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease by funding scientific research around the world. They educate and inform patients, their families and caregivers about the disease and help them find the necessary support.