The latest from Robin Hood Foundation ... WHEDco ... NYC contracts

WHEDco executive director Davon Russell said that the late fashion design Kate Spade was a welcome philanthropic presence.

WHEDco executive director Davon Russell said that the late fashion design Kate Spade was a welcome philanthropic presence. Shutterstock

A book by Robin Hood Foundation CEO Wes Moore is required reading at the University of North Carolina, Asheville. Freshmen will read The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates as part of a university reading program, according to a university statement. Students will also come face-to-face with Moore on Sept. 20 when he visits the school.

He will get some fundraising help in the meantime. Kids and teens in Scarsdale plan to hold a “Robin Hood Lemonaid” on Saturday, June 9. The proceeds will benefit the foundation, Scarsdale 10583 reports.

 

The Children’s Rescue Fund secured a new $36 million contract with the New York City Department of Homeless Services, according to a June 7 post in the City Record. The money will fund the provision of shelter services for “CRF cluster model program” at locations throughout the Bronx.

The department is also looking for proposals from nonprofits that want to operate neighborhood-based cluster residences, and drop-in centers for adults.There is no deadline to apply, according to a June 6 post in the City Record. Brooklyn-based CAMBA though, has already locked down a $28.5 million contract to operate the Kensington Family Shelter through 2022, according to the City Record.

The Administration for Children is also busy on the procurements front. Gotham Per Diem has won an $8.4 million contract to provide chaperone and child care services. And the Vera Institute for Justice has a $510,000 contract to help with some research.

The Department of Probation also awarded a $541,000 contract to the Fund for the City of New York to continue a youth justice program for one more year.

 

WHEDco executive director Davon Russell has something to say about the suicide of fashion designer Kate Spade, who died this week. He issued a statement on June 6 with thoughts about the person he came to know through the philanthropic efforts she contributed to the Bronx-based nonprofit community development organization.

“Kate had a generosity of spirit that has gone under-recognized in the publicity of her untimely death,” Russell said in the statement. “Among her many philanthropic efforts, she was a close and generous friend of WHEDco, since touring our housing developments and programs in 2013. We will never forget how welcoming she was to our staff, alumni of our youth programs and donors when she hosted an event in her home to benefit WHEDco in 2015 - quite literally opening her door to strangers as a way to promote our work.”



Send your memories of Kate Spade and other press releases, photos, and word of your latest happenings to reporter Zach Williams at zwilliams@nynmedia.com.