Since inception, The Westchester Community Foundation has operated as an affiliate of The New York Community Trust.
As part of our centennial celebrations, we are creating a single, unified organization to more powerfully advocate for our region with one voice.
We will still maintain our physical offices in Westchester with the same dedicated staff who will continue to honor and build upon our relationships with local nonprofits and communities.
You can now find us at: https://www.thenytrust.org/westchester/
The Westchester Index is at westchesterindex.org.
The New York Community Trust. For Westchester. Forever.
When armed conflict or persecution compels people to flee their homes, they are truly in crisis. Forced to abandon their belongings, and often their families, they face an uncertain future.
The UN Refugee Agency has recorded 103 million displaced persons around the world. Thousands come to New York, but until recently, Westchester County was not considered a viable sanctuary for refugees.
Hearts & Homes for Refugees Board Chair Kathie O’Callaghan saw untapped potential in people of goodwill in Westchester to unite in welcoming refugees. “Today, we work with four resettlement agencies who confidently place their families in our care,” she said. The foundation is supporting this work.
The organization helps displaced persons from all over the globe, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Myanmar, providing housing, food, medical care; translators and language instruction; and other services.
O’Callaghan says the region hosted no refugees in 2016, but welcomed over 170 in the past six years.
“When community sponsors build scaffolding and offer networking support around new arrivals, refugees are more likely to thrive in dignity and safety, integrate into the community, and find success as new Americans,” O’Callaghan said.
New Rochelle resident Peter Ruocco and a new neighbor.
