A Message from Francine LeFrak

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Dear friends,

It’s crucial that we stay optimistic and continue to check in on each other. The summer has been a productive time for the Foundation. I am so proud to share the news of what we've accomplished with our grant partners.

Stay safe and well,
Francine LeFrak

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Brooklyn Workforce Innovations trains jobless and working poor New Yorkers so they can establish careers. The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation created a "Tools of the Trade" fund to offset the cost of materials and certifications for more than 900 New Yorkers.

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Graduate Spotlight

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BWI Introduces Graduate Fernando Maisonet‍

Our organization is honored to have been featured during Robin Hood's recent Rise Up New York benefit, a virtual telethon to raise funds for vulnerable New Yorkers impacted by COVID-19.

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Donor Spotlight

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Equipping trainees and grads with Tools of the Trade

BWI's Tools of the Trade fund, made possible by the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation, enables BWI to give our neediest participants resources to overcome barriers to their training.

This used to mean providing Metro Cards for trainees who couldn't afford transportation to class, or professional clothing to trainees who lacked new outfits for interviews. But these days, the Tools of the Trade fund has become an invaluable part of our efforts to connect graduates with resources to come out ready and able to work.

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Please donate to help New Yorkers get jobs through this crisis.

bwiny.org/ways-to-give/
When making your gift, specify "Tools of the Trade"

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The never-ending line in Queens outside of a Food Pantry supported by the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation

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Building Capacity in High-Need Communities

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"This summer, the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation provided meals at food pantries Queens, and sponsored a series of mobile food pantries at LeFrak City and the Rego Park library. To date, the Foundation’s support has helped serve over 480,000 Queens residents with more than 2,000,000 meals. ‍

While the spread of COVID-19 in New York City has steadied, the number of New Yorkers lining up at food pantries remains at an all time high. It is during these times that we are grateful for partners like The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation, who have joined us to support our emergency response. The Foundation is expanding its partnership with Food Bank to build capacity at local charities in Queens to help support the increased need for food assistance.

‍The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation's support will establish a new Community Response Partner: Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities. Community Response Partners are an important component of Food Bank's emergency response and act as hubs for large scale food distribution in high need areas. At the height of the pandemic, Elmcor saw a 364% increase in visitors. In addition, the Foundation's funding will also support 14 food pantries and soup kitchens in Queens in increasing their food distribution and adding infrastructure like enhanced refrigeration and storage, which is critical to meeting the demand of hungry New Yorkers. The expansion of their capacity means that more fresh produce and protein is safely getting to those who need it."

Help support hungry New Yorkers during this time of hardship

Visit: foodbanknyc.org/LeFrak

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Women In Need Graduates of the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Computer Training Program

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Thursday, August 27th Women in Need (Win NYC) Homeless Shelter celebrated the 8th graduating class of the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Computer Training Program. These women will join the other 125 alumni from the program as they embark on their new lives filled with dreams, confidence and a job opportunity.

Here is what some of the graduates said about the program:‍

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"This was more than a class...it gave me hope. I am so honored to meet Ms. LeFrak and see she is supporting me. To me, she represents all women and their diversity. She sees what we can accomplish. She inspires me to use my power and hope to succeed." ~ Lizzie A.‍

"I am extremely grateful for this class and what it offered me. I feel so blessed and grateful to you all. I learned a lot in this program and hope that you will keep these programs coming. We need them and they benefit us in more ways than just learning computers. We develop a community of support as we lift each other up." ~ Amari G.

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Please join us in supporting these women's dreams of a job.

Visit: http://support.winnyc.org/LeFrak

Because of your support, we are reminded of how much we have been able to accomplish.

A Message from Francine LeFrak

Brooklyn Workforce Innovations trains jobless and working poor New Yorkers so they can establish careers. The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation created a "Tools of the Trade" fund to offset the cost of materials and certifications for more than 900 New Yorkers.

Graduate Spotlight