PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The District Attorney's Office has announced the recipients of the latest round of violence-prevention grants for community-based organizations. This round of grants, totaling $370,000, was split across 11 organizations that support seniors and elderly residents affected by crime.
“Those crimes can range from deed scams, house theft, insurance fraud,” said G. Lamar Stewart, DAO chief of external engagement and government affairs. “They could be some level of financial crimes or a violent crime or property crime, but there are times that elders and senior citizens have impacted and they're looking for support.”
Since May 2021, the DAO’s office has distributed over $4 million to community-based organizations.
“These are the people and the individuals who work around the clock to make sure that those who are elderly, those who are senior, who find themselves victimized, have somewhere to go that they might have help and support,” said Stewart.
The grants are derived from civil asset forfeiture, funds that the police seize from from criminals. That money is audited by the Philadelphia Foundation and redistributed to anti-violence organizations working in the same ZIP code where the assets were seized.
During the announcement, representatives of the organizations spoke about their plans for the grants.
Dr. Gregory Allen said $50,000 allocated to Overbrook West Neighbors will further the group's mission to support vulnerable families and improve their quality of life.
"This grant will go to support a program we have called the West Philadelphia Handy Person Program, which provides small home repairs to owner-occupied homes of seniors,” said Allen, the group’s president and CEO.
Potter's House Mission, which has been serving senior women for over 30 years, received a $50,000 grant.
“There are a lot of seniors that have been displaced due to lack of income or other circumstances, and a lot of them have had a lot of trauma and abuse in their lives, but now they're turning their lives around, and should be able to be strong mentors to our young ladies in the community,” said Stephanie Ali, executive director.
Isaiah Martin with Empowered Community Development says they will use their $25,000 grant to support their Bridging the Gap program. He says the program “brings together seniors who have faced violent crimes and at-risk youth in order to create a better tomorrow with mentoring and skill sharing and support for the seniors.”
Mary Kay Meeks-Hank, executive director of Face to Face in Germantown, says they will use their $20,000 grant to reduce suffering among the city’s very poor.
“We have a meal program where guests can get a hot meal five days a week, breakfast and a hot meal at noon. We have legal services, social services, housing, navigation, health and behavioral health services,” Meeks-Hank said.
Find a list of past recipients at the DAO website.
The next round of grant applications are open. For the next round of grant applications contact grantmaking@philafound.org.