From Dancing the Tango to Combating Food Insecurity, Hell’s Kitchen Celebrates West Side Community Fund Awards

The West Side Community Fund (WSCF) has announced its roster of Fall grant recipients sharing in a total of $100,000 — and 11 of them are from Hell’s Kitchen.

Friends of Argentine Tango was one of the WSCF grant winners. Photo: Ana Luiza Cortez/Laventurosa Photography

The Fund’s aim is to strengthen communities along Manhattan’s West Side by “investing in and bolstering groups that uplift under-resourced residents across Hell’s Kitchen, Hudson Yards and Chelsea” — and a total of 21 micro-grants have been given in the latest round of awards.

W42ST is honored to be among the grantees – here’s a list of the neighborhood recipients:

Adaptive Design Association – a collaborative initiative based on W36th Street, just west of 8th Avenue, working with students and staff to design and build custom assistive adaptations for students with disabilities.

Adaptive Designs works with students and staff to design and build custom assistive adaptations for students with disabilities. Photo: WSCF/Adaptive Designs

CHEKPEDS – Clinton Hell’s Kitchen Chelsea Coalition for Pedestrian Safety (CHEKPEDS) is a group of businesses, institutions and property owners uniting to correct the dangerous pedestrian conditions in the neighborhood.

Food Education Fund – an internship program based out of Food & Finance High School at 525 W 50th Street, offering valuable career experience to high school seniors through partnerships with top restaurants and the greater food industry.

Tarick Food Education Fund. — Tarick is one of the students who have benefited from the work of the Food Education Fund. Photo: FEF

Friends of Argentine Tango – a group based out of 484 West 43rd Street, that promotes and brings the positive benefits of dancing Tango and other Latin social dances to people who might not otherwise try them.

Hell’s Kitchen Community Cupboard – Runners up for best community organization in the W42ST Best of Awards last month, this operation focuses on redirecting excess food from local businesses to residents facing food insecurity.

HK Community Cupboard — Hell’s Kitchen Community Cupboard volunteers packing grocery bags. Photo: WSCF/HKCC

Keoni Movement Arts – a nonprofit organization based out of 400 West 43rd Street that provides movement classes and performance opportunities to individuals of all ages, abilities and means.

Manhattan Community Boathouse – an all-volunteer nonprofit offering free kayaking in New York City at Pier 96 in Hudson River Park.

Manhattan Community Boathouse Pier 96 — Kayaking at Pier 96 thanks to Manhattan Community Boathouse. Photo: Phil O’Brien

Manhattan Plaza Theatre Project – a theatre group providing seniors with the opportunity to engage in the performing arts.

Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries – a nonprofit organization that provides direct and educational services that promote individual and community growth.

Rauschenbusch Metro Rooftop Farm — The HK Farm at Rauschenbusch Metro Baptist Church is just one of the community projects undertaken. Photo: WSCF/RMBC

The 52nd Street Project – a nonprofit arts education and mentoring organization dedicated to the students in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.

W42ST.nyc – Yep, that’s US! We got a grant to continue our work documenting the empty storefronts of Hell’s Kitchen. Our next audit will be out this month.

More WSCF News

Boost Your Community Project: West Side Fund Opens Doors for Grants!

West Side Community Fund Celebrates Five Years of Giving with New Round of Grants

Hell’s Kitchen Shares in $100,000 Grants from West Side Community Fund with Aid for Homeless, Arts and W42ST

Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown and President of the WSCF Board said, “The Fund’s microgrants program has proved to be an innovative way to reach hyper-local, grassroots organizations and reaches organizations generally not supported by large philanthropic foundations. The model also enables companies with a presence in the West Side to demonstrate their continued commitment to lifting up all members of the community.”

“Since its creation five years ago, the West Side Community Fund has been committed to supporting innovative projects that improve the lives of residents,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler. “The 2023 grant awardees continue that tradition with projects that include creating educational technology that transform students into social entrepreneurs, improving safety measures for pedestrians of all ages and fighting for the rights of poor, low-income and working individuals and families. I extend my congratulations to the 2023 awardees.”

Some of the 21 WSCF Grant Recipients at last week’s presentation event. Photo: WSCF

Added New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, “Our small business and social service organizations help make New York the greatest city in the world, and the West Side Community Fund helps channel crucial assistance to those in Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and Hudson Yards. During the pandemic that devastated many local businesses and services, the WSCF stepped up to support – and since 2018, they have donated over $925,000 in grants to local organizations such as CHEKPEDS and W42ST. I am delighted the Hudson Guild relaunched the WSCF last summer, and I’m excited to see small businesses on the West Side continue to flourish thanks to their support.”