For the third consecutive year, the Greentree Foundation has made a substantial grant to the Manhasset Community Fund for distribution to charities serving the people of the Town of North Hempstead. This year, the foundation's grant was generously increased to $175,000, allowing even more organizations to benefit from the program. The 2006 grant winners were announced at a recent luncheon at the Greentree property here in Manhasset. Several Manhasset organizations are among the 24 grant recipients this year, as are charities serving our neighbors in Port Washington, Great Neck, Herricks and Roslyn.

In July 2003 the Greentree Foundation, founded by the late Mrs. John Hay Whitney of Manhasset, established the "Greentree Good Neighbor Fund" at the Manhasset Community Fund. This fund is to be allocated by the Manhasset Community Fund to organizations addressing priority needs in the Town of North Hempstead. Since then, the Greentree Foundation has donated $475,000 to this program allowing for $482,500 in grants to date - thanks to interest earned and low overhead.

The Greentree Good Neighbor Fund and the grants made from it are separate and distinct from the Community Fund's traditional work of raising money to support the charities that serve Manhasset's kids, seniors, the less fortunate and others in need. That work continues unabated and remains, as it has for 60 years, the Manhasset Community Fund's primary purpose.

It was the Manhasset Community Fund's 60 years of experience assessing local charities that made it an ideal partner for Greentree Foundation. Greentree President Richard Schaffer explained: "Greentree Foundation supports Long Island charities through two intermediary organizations chosen because of their extensive grant making experience to local groups. Greentree supports North Hempstead charities through our 'Good Neighbor Fund' partnership with the Manhasset Community Fund and assists groups in other areas of Nassau and Suffolk Counties through a similar arrangement with the Long Island Community Foundation."

Schaffer continued, "The Greentree Foundation is committed to assisting local charities and further annual grants will be made." This is good news indeed for North Hempstead's not-for-profit organizations.

This year, the Community Fund's former co-president Thomas P. O'Malley was the chair of the Good Neighbor Grant Selection Committee. He expressed his thanks to Greentree Foundation for their generous grants over the past few years "which enabled us to help so many deserving groups both here in Manhasset and in surrounding communities." O'Malley reported that over 500 requests for proposals were sent to various North Hempstead organizations. About 65 applications were received and the quality of the submissions this year was the highest yet. After a thorough selection process that included over 30 site visits, the Manhasset Community Fund is pleased to announce that the 2006 Greentree Foundation Good Neighbor Fund grants will be made to the following groups:

CancerCare of Long Island ($5,000): To provide treatment transportation for low-income cancer patients.

Casa Mary Johanna ($8,000): To expand this after-school tutorial program and adult ESL facility in New Cassel.

Child Abuse Prevention Services ($5,000): To create a "safe surf" program - a cyberspace anti-bullying program.

Herricks Youth Council ($15,000): To fund a Youth Council director.

Island Harvest ($5,000): To continue improvement of food rescue and distribution in the Town of North Hempstead.

Littig House Community Center ($10,000): To support youth enrichment and a "drop-in center" for at-risk children in Port Washington.

Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation ($10,000): To enhance programs for Alzheimer's patients and caregivers.

Long Island Children's Museum ($5,000): To provide outreach educational programs for underserved children.

Long Island Gay & Lesbian Youth: ($10,000): To establish an outreach center in North Hempstead.

Manhasset Basketball Allstars ($5,000): To provide tournament fees, uniforms and equipment for needy kids.

Manhasset CASA ($7,000): To fund parental education of underage drug and alcohol abuse.

Manhasset/Great Neck EOC ($12,500): To fund the Family Support Program.

Mary & Elizabeth Center ($5,000): To expand Spanish language support groups for women in Port Washington.

Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence ($7,000): To provide a domestic violence social worker at the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC.

New Life Rehabilitation Center ($9,000): To support this residence for the homeless in Westbury.

North Shore Child & Family Guidance ($6,000): To fund wilderness hikes for at-risk adolescents.

North Shore/LIJ Health System ($5,000): To support a social worker at the memory impairment center.

Port Counseling Center ($5,000): To fund health assessments for chemically dependent poor and uninsured.

Port Washington Community Action Program: ($7,000): To purchase computers for needy kids and teens.

Port Washington Parent Resource Center ($5,000): To fund pre-school programs for low-income families.

Port Washington Twin Pines ($6,000): To purchase freezer equipment for the food distribution program.

Port Washington Youth Center ($10,000): To expand hours of operation and enhance computer program.

Sid Jacobson JCC ($10,000): To establish an after-school program for disadvantaged children in Roslyn.

St. Aloysius Outreach Program ($5,000): To support the food distribution program and other outreach.