Three years ago, Cathy was in a dark place. Originally from Colombia, she had been living with her boyfriend and their two children, ages three and seven, in New Jersey until one day he brought another woman home and told Cathy she had to leave. Although her mother and sister lived nearby, they refused to help her because they blamed her for the break-up of the relationship. With no job and no place to live, Cathy was unable to get custody of her children. Devastated, and with nowhere else to turn, she went back to Colombia to live with her…

Despite government budget cuts, VOA-GNY met last year’s record, providing backpacks and school supplies to tens of thousands of children living in NYC shelters. At a time of record family homelessness and challenging government budget cuts, Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) distributed 19,000 backpacks to school-aged children living in New York City homeless and domestic violence shelters this summer through its 22nd annual Operation Backpack® campaign. Operation Backpack® is a community-wide effort that aims to ensure as many children as possible have the school supplies they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. These items are critical resources that…

When a single mom named Beatrice took a part time job as a cook at Bay City Residence, a residential healthcare program in Perth Amboy, New Jersey in 1999, she had no idea that she was starting on a path that would allow her to help not just her family, but also countless adults who need support regaining their independence after psychiatric hospitalizations. Nearly 30 years ago, Beatrice Jones enrolled in culinary school while living in a transitional housing program with her two young children. A Trenton native, Beatrice had previously been living in a local substance use treatment program,…

Noelle Withers, EVP & Chief Program Officer at VOA-GNY, was featured in The New York Times, responding to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy’s op-ed on supporting parents’ mental health. “In the U.S., infants are the most likely age group to stay in a homeless shelter. In New York City, nearly 30,000 children on average were living in a shelter last year, 13,000 of whom on average were 5 years old or younger. As a leading homeless services provider, we know firsthand that the concerns outlined by Dr. Murthy are amplified for parents experiencing housing insecurity and poverty.” Read the full…

In the latest episode of The Urbanist from Monocle, hosted by Andrew Tuck, VOA-GNY President & CEO Jeffrey Ginsburg joins Fernando Villa of Magnusson Architecture and Planning to discuss how thoughtful architectural design can help foster community and reduce isolation in senior housing. Our East Clarke Place Senior Residence and soon-to-open Andrews Avenue Senior Residence, both designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning, encourage connection and socialization among residents, helping to create a sense of community and fight the health risks associated with loneliness in seniors. Listen to the full episode.

Funds raised benefit Volunteers of America-Greater New York and United Negro College Fund. September 16, 2024 – NEW YORK, NY — The Honickman Companies, Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY), and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) today announced $550,000 was raised at The Honickman Companies 5th Annual Golf Invitational event held on Monday, September 9, 2024. Championed by The Honickman Companies’ leadership, the event has raised over $2 million since it was first held in 2020. All proceeds benefit VOA-GNY and UNCF. “We couldn’t have asked for a better day supporting our community partners at Volunteers of America–Greater New…

Ayesha Khan has joined Volunteers of America-Greater New York as their new Chief Development Officer. In her career, she has advocated for educational access in underserved communities and fought food insecurity. Today, Ayesha’s deep understanding of direct services and nearly two decades of experience at nonprofits such as International Rescue Committee and Lumos Foundation will enable her to secure opportunities to further VOA-GNY’s mission to serve people experiencing homelessness. Read the announcement on Crain’s Business here.

Ms. Khan To Lead Organization’s Philanthropic Efforts And Ideate Strategy To Advance Community Impact NEW YORK – Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) today announced that Ayesha Khan, a philanthropic strategy expert with nearly two decades of experience at leading international nonprofits including International Rescue Committee and Lumos Foundation, has joined the organization as the new Chief Development Officer. Ms. Khan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise as a leader in the philanthropic sector, having overseen global fundraising strategy and operations proposal development, emergency response, and program design and implementation. This experience will enable her to successfully identify and secure…

Award-winning Broadway actor, dancer and singer, Walter Russell III, features in our new PSA for our annual community service campaign, Operation Backpack®. Make a donation to help provide children experiencing homelessness with backpacks and the school supplies they need to succeed in the classroom!