New York Bar Foundation Presents $7,334 Grant To MHAW

RONKONKOMA, NY - MAY 7, 2021: The New York Bar Foundation recently presented a grant of $7,334 to the Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW). The grant will be used to support MHAW’s Children’s Care Management programs which include providing legal advocacy for at-risk youth.

“Access to appropriate educational opportunities is a critical social determinant of life-long mental and physical health” said Colleen Merlo, LMSW, the Chief Executive Officer of MHAW. “For this reason, our care mangers work closely with school districts.

“This grant will foster these partnerships and enhance our efforts to ensure equitable access to school resources for the families with whom we work,” she said. “We are so grateful for the support of the New York Bar Foundation.”

Foundation grants assist non-profit organizations with essentials-of-life issues such as child support, consumer debt, housing, access to health care and education, and family matters such as domestic violence and family stability. Added this year was a focus on COVID-19 related issues, and racial justice impacted programming needs.

“The New York Bar Foundation has allocated nearly $700,000 in grants to 107 programs across New York, significantly increasing the total number of grants over the past several years,” said Lucia Whisenand, Chair of the Grant Review Committee. “The issues we touch on are extensive and impact people in life-changing ways.”

By raising awareness of the need for access to civil legal services and allocating resources to help meet these needs, the Foundation will help make access to justice a reality for New Yorkers and, thereby, enhance the understanding of and respect for the rule of law.

“Through our grant-making program, we help improve access to justice by providing seed grants to innovative legal projects piloting new ways to help those in need,” adds June Castellano, Vice-Chair of the Grant Review Committee. “When you give to the Foundation, you help make a difference across New York State.”

At a time when the help of legal services organization is in great demand, the Foundation has established a COVID-19 Emergency Legal Relief Fund. Donations to the fund will assist New Yorkers across New York State in need of legal services due to the impacts of COVID-19 through their grant program. Donations can be made at www.tnybf.org and selecting the COVID-19 Legal Relief Fund in the drop-down window.

About the Association for Mental Health and Wellness

Based in Ronkonkoma, the Association for Mental Health and Wellness is a not-for-profit organization that provides programs, services, and advocacy for people in Suffolk County who face mental health challenges, with an enhanced focus on service to veterans. With roots dating back to 1955, MHAW was formed through the 2014 merger of three social service providers: the Mental Health Association in Suffolk County, Clubhouse of Suffolk, and Suffolk County United Veterans. For more information, call 631-471-7242 or go to www.MHAW.org.

About the New York Bar Foundation

The New York Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the charitable arm of the New York State Bar Association. Established in 1950, the Foundation is dedicated to aiding charitable and educational projects to meet the law-related needs of the public and the legal profession. To learn more about the Foundation visit www.tnybf.org or email Deborah Auspelmyer dauspelmyer@tnybf.org