Words by Smiley Team
Businessman and hedge fund founder Steve Cohen and his wife, philanthropist Alexandra have donated $1.5 million to a small charity, Neighbor to Neighbor. It distributes food and clothing to people in need in Greenwich, southern Connecticut, near to where the Cohens live.
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation’s donation will help the charity respond to a mounting demand for support, with a new 6,363-square-foot distribution centre, which they will call The Cohen Center for Neighbor to Neighbor.
“We are happy to be there to help Neighbor to Neighbor reach their goal of building a home to serve Greenwich,” said Alex Cohen, president of Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. “It doesn’t matter what zip code you come from, there will always be people who can use the support of their community.”
Neighbor to Neighbor executive director Margaret Tjimos Goldberg said: "We are incredibly grateful to Steve and Alex Cohen, who exemplify partnerships in philanthropy by making a transformative investment in the community. Neighbor to Neighbor relies on community partners like Steve and Alex, and we know that their leadership and generosity will inspire others.”
Neighbor to Neighbor tackles poverty in Greenwich by handing out nutritious canned food and fresh groceries to promote health and well-being. These are available both as emergency collections or weekly distributions. They also give away clothing such as children’s jackets, pyjamas, sheets, blankets, towels, healthcare and personal hygiene products, and detergent.
The charity’s staff and volunteers have been busily sorting and preparing deliveries in a temporary space and a local church, while the new building is constructed. From these two centres, they have been providing food to about 525 households each week.
Throughout the pandemic, they have seen an unprecedented rise in need for food. Hunger and food insecurity affect many people in the area, with over 20 per cent of residents lacking the necessary income to buy basic necessities, and 28 per cent of Greenwich Public School students qualifying for free or subsidized lunches.
"We have seen an increasing need in our community,” Goldberg said, “and currently, 42 per cent of our clients are children. Our mission is to provide reliable and sustained access to food to assist clients in need, and our new building will enable us to support those who rely on us in an atmosphere of kindness and respect."
To support disadvantaged people in Greenwich, donate to Neighbor to Neighbor here.
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation encourages philanthropy and community service by building awareness, offering advice, and donating to causes for good.
Since launching the Foundation in 2001, Steven and Alexandra Cohen have funded local and national nonprofit organizations across the US that strengthen communities and tackle poverty.
Find more information at steveandalex.org or follow @CohenGive on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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