Ponce De Leon Foundation 2018 to 2023 Report

Common Threads

Common Threads is pleased to have received grant funding that has helped further their mission to inspire communities to embrace healthy cooking, healthy eating, and the celebration of culture by providing children, families and educators with hands-on cooking and nutrition education classes. Common Threads implemented their hands-on cooking and nutrition programming designed to promote

health and wellness with partner schools that serve 50% or more of students that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Many of whom are located in areas with a high percentage of SNAP-eligible families in Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan.

Between January 2023 through December 2023, Common Threads’ programs are proven to improve nutrition knowledge, liking for fruits and vegetables and confidence in cooking skills. Additionally, the program serves over 14,800 students, 98,000 adults providing healthy snacks and meals and over 93,000 hours of programming for 2022-2023 school year. A notable accomplishment was the expansion to high school level education through Kitchen Clinic, a new

high school career exploration program aimed at increasing students’ health eating, cooking skills, and interest in healthcare-related careers.

Community Options, Inc. Community Options proposed to use a grant from The Ponce de Leon Foundation to preserve ten units of supportive and affordable housing and create one new unit. Each unit was intended to house one

person with an intellectual and developmental disability.

The project’s three goals were to: 1) rehabilitate and maintain ten units of affordable and supportive housing; 2) create one new unit of affordable and supportive housing, and 3) ensure dignity, integration, wellbeing and safety for eleven New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Eleven people with disabilities maintained their right to live in the community with support. All construction milestones were completed on both properties. Van Buren residents temporarily relocated during construction but are now living back in their newly updated home.

17

Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker