MUSLIM COMMUNITY RECEIVES SUPPORT

The Westchester Community Foundation in Hartsdale has awarded $596,000 to 22 nonprofits, providing support for the arts, environmental protection and young people.

Among the grants is support to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) to expand its reach to members of Westchester’s Muslim community by providing outreach, civic engagement and legal services.

"While some examples of injustice toward Muslim Americans are high-profile, particularly hatecrimes, many Muslim New Yorkers endure less visible discrimination and injustice as part of their daily lives,” said Sarah Jones-Maturo, advisory board chair. “Muslims encounter bullying at school or work, racial or religious profiling by law enforcement, undue burdens in the immigration process and obstacles to travel. Our grant will help Westchester’s Muslim residents get information on their civil rights, access to legal services when their rights have been violated, and opportunities for civic engagement.”

Since 1975 the Westchester Community Foundation has worked to improve the quality of life in Westchester by promoting responsible philanthropy and connecting donors to critical local needs. The foundation is a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the largest community foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately $3 billion.