Welcome to the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island

At the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), our work is to ensure that our region is a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone to live. We can set the standard for what an equitable region looks like. That means safe communities, decent, affordable housing, healthy food, access to care and an opportunity to thrive. In our quest for improvements and systemic change, we face a unique set of obstacles. In fact, the poverty rate today is at its highest since 1959. Given the current assault on the country’s most vulnerable communities, our work is more important than ever.

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Our Impact

11350

People served in 2023 alone

76

Years Serving Long Island

200+

Partnering Organizations

Recent News

March 8, 2024

Press Release: New York State Commissioner of Health Discusses Executive Budget Health Care Proposals at Long Island Events

Dr. James McDonald Highlights Public Health Proposals in FY25 Executive BudgetHuntington Station, New York (March 8, 2024) - State Health Department Commissioner Dr. James McDonald in partnership with representatives from the Long Island Association and the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island discussed health care and public health proposals in Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY 2025 Executive Budget yesterday during two events on Long Island. "These types of events allow New Yorkers to provide input and ask pertinent questions about critical issues that affect them and their families,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Governor Hochul has provided us with a comprehensive and visionary blueprint, and we want to assure New Yorkers that they will have the programs, services, and support they need and deserve.”  Governor Hochul’s FY 2025 Executive Budget includes significant investments to make New York more affordable and safer and provide New Yorkers with resources that will help improve their physical and mental health. The $233 billion budget includes a 4.5 percent increase over last year’s budget, with health care as the largest single expense. The budget includes an investment increase in mental health that will include 200 new inpatient psychiatric beds, youth mental health services, and supportive housing units for people in need of mental health services. Governor Hochul also proposed record funding to keep New Yorkers healthy while setting the Medicaid program on sustainable long-term fiscal footing. “Our economy and workforce depend upon a healthy population, and we thank Commissioner McDonald for his time yesterday to brief the business community on the Governor’s healthcare budget proposals,” Long Island Association President and CEO Matt Cohen said. “This type of dialogue is critical so the private sector is aware of new policies and available resources that could help them to improve their bottom line.” “We express our gratitude to Commissioner McDonald for shedding light on and discussing the sections of the NYS budget that directly relate to health and human service funding priorities,” Health and Welfare Council of Long Island President and CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter said. “Addressing health disparities, enhancing health outcomes, and bolstering our public health system align with the core mission of the Health and Welfare Council and our community-based organizations. Yesterday, our organizations had the privilege of engaging with Commissioner McDonald, seeking answers to our inquiries, and equipping ourselves with the necessary information to better serve our clients.” During the meetings, Commissioner McDonald outlined the budget and New York's priorities, which include focusing on children and families, combatting climate change, rebuilding the mental health system, investing in education and Medicaid, advancing health care initiatives, improving affordability for all New Yorkers, and addressing the migrant crisis.  Commissioner McDonald also discussed issues that affect all New Yorkers, which include children’s and maternal health, health insurance, primary care, the opioid epidemic, the support of veterans, and emergency medical services. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions about how the FY25 Executive Budget can impact programs and services on Long Island and their personal lives.  The FY25 Executive Budget Briefing Book can be found here.-###-  Contact: New York State Department of Health   518-474-2043 x. 2   press@health.ny.gov    facebook.com/NYSDOHtwitter.com/HealthNYGovpinterest.com/nysdohhealth.ny.gov

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February 14, 2024

M&T Foundation awards $675K to six Long Island nonprofits

By Adina Glenn

Posted on February 13th, 2024

Read on LIBN

The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, has awarded $675,000 in grants to six Long Island nonprofits. The grants are part of $8.2 million that the foundation awarded to 68 nonprofits across New England, Long Island and Rockland County.

This grants are through the foundation’s “Amplify Fund,” a $25 million philanthropic investment that was announced in 2022 and stemmed from the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. The initiative aims to work with groups that are dedicated to “addressing social issues through a racial equity and social justice lens in low- and moderate- income communities and underrepresented populations,” according to M&T Foundation.

For this second round of funding, M&T had announced a call for proposals in August of 2023. The foundation sought initiatives from nonprofits that worked to solve a specific issue with a focus on either family stability, income and wealth equity, workforce development or health equity.

On Long Island, the funding was awarded to Community Action Southold Town in Southold, Erase Racism in Syosset, EAC  in Garden City, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island in Huntington Station, Long Island FQHC in Westbury, and Northwell Health in New Hyde Park.

“At M&T, addressing the institutionalized and systemic issues preventing disadvantaged communities from accessing opportunities and achieving long-term success is key to our mission as a community-focused bank,” Dominique Goss, executive director of the M&T Charitable Foundation said in a written statement.

“We are proud to provide the Amplify Fund as a difference-making resource in the communities we serve and look forward to continuing our work to increase racial and economic equity throughout our footprint,” Gross added.

The grants ranged from $50,000 to $150,000 on Long Island.

“The Health Equity Taskforce and Northwell Health are committed to advancing health equity for vulnerable and marginalized populations throughout Long Island,” Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez, senior vice president of Community and Population Health at Northwell Health, said in a written statement.

“This generous grant from the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation’s Amplify Fund will advance our work to strengthen the youth mental health ecosystem throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties,” Salas-Lopez said.

“With improved access to mental health services, education, and support, the Health Equity Taskforce will realize a significant and sustainable impact on the mental health of Long Island’s underrepresented youth,” Salas-Lopez said.

The M&T Foundation will offer a third round of grants, which will be announced later this year.

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February 14, 2024

HWCLI Press Release: Health & Welfare Council of Long Island Receives $150,000 From M&T Bank's Amplify Fund

Huntington Station, New York  February 14th, 2024 – The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB), has awarded $150,000 to Health & Welfare Council of Long Island. The grant is part of the second round of giving through the Amplify Fund providing more than $8.2 million to 68 lead nonprofit organizations throughout New England, Long Island, and Rockland County, NY.

“On behalf of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, I am grateful that we have been awarded the Amplify Grant from the M&T Charitable Foundation,” said Vanessa Baird Streeter, President and CEO. “With this recognition and support, our organization can help a network of providers and community-based organizations hire, train, integrate, and retain Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs play a vital role in enhancing the health of individuals and communities and this initiative will boost the growth of this sector within the public health workforce.”

HWCLI provides a host of direct services and opportunities that are dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island's most vulnerable residents. We operate a series of programs and coalitions that address health equity, nutritional security, access to affordable healthcare, and economic security. Together with our network of nonprofits, we are able provide a unique and crucial safety net for our Long Island neighbors.

“Through the Amplify Fund, we are committed to continuing our partnership with organizations like Health & Welfare Council of Long Island that work hand-in-hand with community members in the field to provide the critical resources and programming necessary to truly make a difference,” said Dominique Goss, Executive Director of the M&T Charitable Foundation. “At M&T, addressing the institutionalized and systemic issues preventing disadvantaged communities from accessing opportunities and achieving long-term success is key to our mission as a community bank. We are proud to provide the Amplify Fund as a difference-making resource in the communities we serve.” 

First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable program to provide further support in the legacy People's United communities. The first round of funding totaled more than $11.8 million to 105 nonprofit organizations and focused on equity and environmental initiatives, mission-driven and capacity-building work, community and tenant organizing, and financial empowerment and education for individuals and small businesses. 

Phase II of the Amplify Fund focused on providing funding, for up to three years, to nonprofit collaboratives working together toward a common goal for solving a specific social issue, to help advance equity in the following key areas of focus: 

Family Stability: Affordable housing, food security, and access to quality and affordable childcare. Income & Wealth Equity: Employment, small business development, homeownership, and financial empowerment initiatives.  Workforce Development: Education and training opportunities focused on upskilling and career pathways in high-growth sectors leading to economic prosperity.  Health Equity: Access to quality and affordable healthcare, with a priority on youth mental health and women and infant health. 

The Amplify Fund is designed to drive sustainable impact that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to local needs. Regional representatives of the bank will continue to meet with local leaders to help inform the strategic direction for the Fund’s third round. 

For more information on the Amplify Fund, including the full list of grant recipients in New England and Metro New York, please visit the Amplify Fund website.  

About M&T Charitable Foundation 

The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1993 and funded by M&T Bank. The M&T Charitable Foundation awards nearly $40 million in grants per year to thousands of nonprofit organizations focused on improving the quality of life in the areas the bank serves. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.  

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