Queens families get a boost from NYC Kids Rise

Nearly 5,000 families in some of Queens’ hardest hit neighborhoods received a $150 gift card to use as needed. Photo courtesy of Kids Rise

By Rachel Vick

Since April of 2020, more than $1 million in emergency funding has been distributed to nearly 5,000 families in Queens’ School District 30 through donations and NYC Kids Rise.

The participating families, who were all registered in the college savings program, received at least one $150 disaster relief gift card that could be used to purchase food, pay for internet or put towards whatever they needed most.

“This emergency relief effort highlights both the versatility of the Save for College Program distribution platform, and demonstrates the continued importance of investing in the social infrastructure within neighborhoods,” said Debra-Ellen Glickstein, executive director of NYC Kids RISE.

“Because of the relationships and systems set up… we were quickly able to mobilize to get resources into the hands of families in our community,” Glickstein added. “We are proud that this $1.5M not only supported families’ urgent needs, but also that much of the $1.5M was dollars that were circulated at businesses in our neighborhood.”

The funds were put together by the Robin Hood’s Relief Fund, the Gray Foundation, District Council 9 and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation and the Zegar Family Fund. Kids Rise then distributed the emergency cards to the kindergarten, first-, second, and third-graders in the district.

Nahida Nasrin, a Save for College Program parent, said her children’s well-being was a top priority and that the no-strings-attached cash infusion “made a difference for my family as we worked together to make it through this challenging time.”

“NYC Kids RISE’s work to distribute over $1.5 in emergency relief served to underscore the power of the platform as a tool to strengthen the social fabric and economic connections within participating communities,” said Community School District 30 Superintendent Dr. Philip A. Composto. “Our school district is proud to partner with NYC Kids RISE on this journey in supporting all our children and families.”