Notes from Nancy Konipol:
My nonprofit, NYNonProfit hosted a Nonprofit Exchange Meeting with City Council Finance Chair, David Weprin last Tuesday, the 21st.
Around 70 nonprofit heads attended, including Joel Berg, Ex Dir of NYC Coalition Against Hunger, David Burg, Founder of Wild Metro, Lynn Brooks, Founder of Big Apple Greeters,John Beltzer, Founder of Songs of Love, Chris Norwood, Founder of Health People (whose Board I am on).
David was a great speaker, even hung around after his speech for the networking hour. He spoke about the steps required to submit a proposal to the City Council, what the City looks for in funding nonprofits and his experiences on the City Council, working with Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Christine Quinn, and former Speaker Gifford Miller.
David commented on what a great mix of nonprofits were present. As Finance Chair, David oversees the city budget, which is now 55.6 billion $ and had helped out many of the orgs there, in the past.
Songs of Love creates personalized songs on CDs for chronically and terminally ill children and young adults. David Weprin song on one of the CDS on the steps of City Hall along with other Council Members.
Chris Norwood, Founder of Health People was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize this year, for her work with women and AIDS. health People is working on a program to help kids orphaned by AIDS which is a major situation in the Bronx where Health People does it's work.
NYC Coalition Against Hunger operates the more than thousand soup kitchens and food pantries in NYC. Food pantries are like free supermarkets that gives nutriously balanced food to families and individuals.
I visited a soup kitchen in 2002. I had pictured soup kitchens from the depression era, long lines waiting with soup bowls. I was surprised to see loaves of fresh baked breads, fresh vegetables. In addition to the homeless people, were also people out of work because of 9/11.
Big Apple Greeters does an amazing job for NYC in terms of tourism. They match tourists with New Yorkers who are happy to share their knowledge and experiences of the city.
Check out my photos of the meeting and of some of the nonprofits.
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