Throggs Neck charity becomes a nonprofi t organization
BY JASON COHEN
For more than two decade,
Lynne Corry and her team at
Giving Friends have held a holiday
toy drive for thousands of
kids. In January of this year,
the organization offi cially became
a nonprofi t.
Corry, who has been doing
this for 23 years, felt that having
nonprofi t status would benefi
t the organization and attract
more positive attention.
“I think people want to support
us because we are a legit
charity case,” Corry said.
The ongoing pandemic has
not slowed down Corry, her
husband Joe and her son Tyler
Smith, who have been working
hard to make sure people
have toys for Christmas. Last
year, Giving Friends collected
and delivered 2,000 toys to local
children.
Since becoming a nonprofi t,
the organization has received
a $10,000 donation from a foundation,
which has helped with
operational costs, such as rent
and renovation of its site in
Throggs Neck and paying for
social media consultants.
Corry expressed gratitude
to Alma Bank, the only fi nancial
institution that was opening
Svetlana Radakovic, vice president and branch manager at the Pelham Bay Branch of Alma Bank,Kimon Skarlatos, vice president of new product
development and Lynne, Joe and Tyler Corry Photo by Jason Cohen
new business and nonprofi
t accounts locally during
COVID-19 and worked closely
with her to open the Giving
Friends account. Alma sponsored
the toy drive and put
donation and collection bins
in 13 of its branches citywide.
The bank also promoted the
toy drive on social media and
throughout their organization.
“We are confi dent they
will fi ll the bins and make a
substantial donation of toys
from their customers and residents
BRONX TIMES R 2 EPORTER, DECEMBER 11-17, 2020 BTR
in the communities they
serve,” Corry said. “Svetlana
the vice president and branch
manager has been instrumental
in the beginning stages
of this partnership as a solid
community team player!”
The gifts have been pouring
in since October and include
Elmo, Woody and Buzz toys,
women’s clothes and swimmies
for the pool. Before Christmas,
volunteers help make gift bags
for children, which will be delivered
on Dec. 21.
Companies such as Ralph
Lauren, Old Navy, Club Monaco
and Gap have all donated
clothes. Others that have contributed
include the Silver
Beach Book Club and Cardinal
Spellman High School.
“If someone wants to donate,
I say yes,” Corry said.
Typically, Tyler and his
friends dress up as elves and
hand out the gifts. But due to
the pandemic this year, it will
be more of a curbside pickup
event.
“It’s challenging to be a
nonprofi t during COVID-19,”
she said.
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