14 THE QUEENS COURIER • JULY 29, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Photo courtesy of JFKIAT
JFKIAT distributes $100K to four Jamaica nonprofi ts
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
JFKIAT, the operator of Terminal 4 at
John F. Kennedy International Airport,
recently presented $100,000 in donations
to four organizations in Jamaica to support
their mission of strengthening the
community.
Th e Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of
New York, Boys & Girls Club of Metro
Queens, the CUNY Aviation Institute
at York College and the Jamaica Center
Business Improvement District each
received $25,000.
As the community continues to recover
from the pandemic, Roel Huinink,
president and CEO of JFKIAT, said it
is of utmost importance that they support
organizations that serve the greater
Jamaica area.
“As a Queens-based business, we hope
to make a meaningful impact through
our 4GOOD program, and we are grateful
to each of our partners for working
with us to make these contributions possible,”
Huinink said. “We are very proud to
support these organizations that provide
direct support to local businesses and residents
in our community.”
Th e donations are part of JFKIAT’s corporate
giving program, 4GOOD, which
was launched in 2016. Th e program has
distributed more than $150,000 annually
in funds for charities, organized events
at Terminal 4, and worked closely with
several organizations in Queens. It serves
local institutions through philanthropic
and sustainable actions.
JFKIAT and its partners have raised
$230,000 to aid the Queens community as
it continues to grapple with the economic
impacts of the pandemic.
Th e fund will provide one-time donations
to selected nonprofi t organizations
that provide community support, local
business support and education, which
are among the key pillars of the 4GOOD
program. Th e nonprofi t organizations
were selected through an application process,
in which they specifi ed programs
and initiatives geared to helping those
most impacted by the pandemic.
Each organization thanked Huinink
and the JFKIAT staff for their role in issuing
the award.
Donna Atmore-Dolly, executive director
of the Allen Community Nonprofi t
Programs, one of the largest outreach
ministries in New York City through its
soup kitchen and feeding program, said
they greatly appreciate the generosity of
the JFKIAT 4GOOD organization.
“With this gracious donation, we are
able to lighten the load from our food
pantry expenses, assist with our women’s
resource center in improving the facility,
and help our senior centers with the
development of their virtual programs,”
Atmore-Dolly said.
For over fi ve years, JFKIAT has been
an essential partner in helping the Boys
& Girls Club of Metro Queens achieve
its mission of doing whatever it takes to
ensure all young people reach their full
potential and are put on the path to success,
said David Kupecky, executive director
of the club.
“When our community was hard hit
by the pandemic, JFKIAT stepped up to
provide our club with much-needed aid,
which allowed us to provide vital resources
for those who need us most. We are
thankful for all they do and look forward
to more years of working together to provide
these young people with opportunities
and the support they need,” Kupecky
said.
Meanwhile, Berenecea Johnson Eanes,
president of York College, expressed gratitude
to JFKIAT and its 4GOOD program
for the thoughtful donation of $25,000 for
scholarships and small business breakfast
seminars for the business community.
“It is an honor to be asked to serve
in this manner as JFKIAT seeks to support
the local community in the wake of
a deadly pandemic that devastated the
small business community and our students,”
Johnson Eanes said.
Jennifer Furioli, executive director of
the Jamaica Center Business Improvement
Development, which manages and beautifi
es downtown Jamaica’s commercial district
as a thriving business hub and welcoming
destination, said they’re honored
that the JFKIAT team selected their organization
for a grant.
With the funding, Furioli said they
will be able to continue their important
work helping businesses recover from an
extremely challenging period.
“Notably, we look forward to continuing
to provide direct assistance and outreach
to our hundreds of businesses in downtown
Jamaica; arranging more ‘cleaning
and greening days’ to create a pleasant
and safe shopping environment; monitoring
and advocating for quality-of-life
enhancements in downtown Jamaica; and
marketing and promoting local business
and our cultural gems through a variety of
events and promotions,” Furioli said. “As a
small nonprofi t, this funding will make all
the diff erence in the world to us, and we
applaud JFKIAT for supporting the local
nonprofi ts in its community.”
Donna Atmore-Dolly of The Great Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York (c.) with Roel Huinink and Vernon Taylor of JFKIAT.
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