(ROCHESTER, NY) - Today, Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester), announced the twelve recipients of his “Reinvesting in Organizations that Care” (ROC) Grants that were aimed at providing state funding to local organizations and community-based organizations in the midst of federal funding cuts being threatened by the Trump Administration. 

In May 2025, Senator Cooney made $1 million available for groups to apply for. The Senator explained that the funding would help organizations meeting the diverse needs of the Rochester community, from New Americans and survivors of domestic violence, to anti-poverty groups, health centers, and those serving underserved populations. 

“With the ROC Grant program, we’re putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to helping organizations serving vulnerable populations in our Greater Rochester community,” said Senator Cooney. “We know there is more work to do to combat the reckless funding cuts coming from Washington. These grants are our way of showing community organizations that in New York, we value their work and will keep fighting to make sure they can continue to serve our Rochester community.”

Dr. Shannon Cleverley-Thompson, Executive Director, Council of Agency Executives said, “COAE thanks Senator Cooney for his leadership in creating the ROC Grants and for recognizing the essential role nonprofits play in the Rochester area. I see every day how nonprofit leaders collaborate and innovate despite challenges and fewer resources. These grants can help sustain and fuel their commitment to continue serving our most vulnerable populations.  We congratulate all the ROC grant recipients who exemplify the resilience, leadership, and care that keep our community strong.”

“This investment provides more than dollars; it provides stability and hope during a time when federal cuts are creating fear and uncertainty,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “The ROC Grants program helps protect our libraries as critical community assets, ensuring they remain safe, modern, and welcoming spaces for families to learn, connect, and grow. We are truly grateful to Senator Jeremy Cooney for his commitment to ensuring all library visitors have access to the resources they need and deserve.”

The full list of recipients and a description of their capital projects are listed below: 

Aiding New Americans and Resettled Refugees: 

• $75,000 for Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services. Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services (RRRS) provides essential services for New Americans—from providing stable housing and educational resources to connecting refugees with job opportunities, they have helped hundreds of New Americans adjust to life in our community. The ROC Grant will go towards the continued renovation of the historic Rochester Driving Park Hotel where RRRS will provide safe, affordable housing to an additional four New American families while preserving the history of the landmark. Renovations and repairs will be made to the upper level deck, the roof, and the siding of the structure. 

• $50,000 for Barakah Muslim Charity. Barakah Muslim Charity was founded in 2013 and provides food, clothing, and counseling services to those most in need. Barakah’s ROC Grant will go towards replacing three HVAC units and updated kitchen appliances. Their current HVAC units are 25 years old, regularly failing during the warm summer months.

Combatting Homelessness:

• $54,000 for Volunteers of America. Volunteers of America (VOA) provides holistic services to combat poverty and homelessness. They provide essential services in areas such as housing, education, and health to promote stability. Their capital project will be fulfilling a community need by offering medical respite beds for homeless adults who are in need of a safe environment with access to medical care. The ROC Grant will go towards making their bathrooms handicap accessible so they can begin serving the community. These beds will not only provide a safe space to meet homeless individuals’ medical needs, they will also free up bed space at local hospitals. VOA is partnering with Health Reach for this project. 

Serving Individuals with Disabilities: 

• $56,000 for Special Touch Bakery. Special Touch Bakery specializes in providing high-quality baked goods while placing emphasis on hiring individuals with disabilities. Their “Purpose for All” approach is centered around the idea that people of all abilities are looking for a purpose in the community, and Special Touch Bakery provides this purpose for their bakers. Their grant funding will go towards the purchase of a new freezer racking system, a stand-up forklift, and dry warehouse racking for the bakery. 

Caring for Survivors of Domestic Violence: 

• $62,500 for Willow Domestic Violence Center. Willow Domestic Violence Center is the only licensed provider in Monroe County that provides both residential and non-residential services for survivors of domestic violence, serving over 8,000 survivors a year. They have reported that our area has experienced higher rates of domestic violence compared to state averages, with Monroe County’s rate 1.4 times higher and the City of Rochester’s rate 3 times higher compared to New York State. Willow has noted that many survivors do not enter shelters due to not wanting to leave their pets behind, which led them to create their Pet Program in 2018 to house both survivors and their family pets. This grant would expand capacity in the pet program, leading to the creation of a new cat room, improvements to the dog kennel, and renovations to existing spaces. 

Recovery from Substance Abuse: 

• $73,000 for Delphi Rise. Delphi Rise is a behavioral health clinic providing social support services. They serve over 5,000 people a year, helping them to overcome mental health crises, substance abuse, and housing instability. They are in current need of renovations to their building to best serve the community. The ROC Grant will be used for Phase One of these renovations, funding new front and rear entry doors that seal properly, exterior lighting to create a safer, more welcoming environment for patients and staff, and a more efficient, upgraded HVAC system. 

Promoting equity: 

• $80,000 for Urban League of Rochester. For 60 years, Urban League of Rochester has served historically underserved populations, promoting economic self-sufficiency, better education for our youth, and equity throughout our community. This funding would provide physical security and cyber security upgrades at their headquarters. This would include five new exterior doors with keyless entry, additional security cameras, and new servers to deter the kinds of cyber attacks that often target nonprofits. 

Improving education outcomes: 

• $124,500 for the Ibero-American Action League. Ibero-American Action League specializes in uplifting and supporting the Latino community, specifically those from underserved communities. This funding will go towards the purchase and installation on a new HVAC system at their early childhood center. This center serves 135 children with subsidized daycare, Pre-K, and summer programs. They are also the only bilingual early childhood center in our region. 

• $100,000 for Rochester Public Library. Federal funding cuts have specifically targeted library services nationwide. This grant will help make up the shortfall from these cuts and allow the Rochester Public Library to make needed technological, security, and accessibility upgrades, including the replacement and acquisition of computers, and new security cameras. 

Meeting the diverse health care needs of our community:

• $175,000 for Beta Chi Chi, Inc. Beta Chi Chi, Inc. is the local chapter of the Chi Eta Phi, Inc. sorority, representing nurses from a diverse set of backgrounds. Beta Chi Chi, Inc. encourages nursing education, promotes social change, and provides mentoring and recruitment services. This funding will go towards the renovation of the former St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church which will be transformed into the Beta Chi Chi Health Hub, a community wellness center focused on improving community health outcomes in underserved neighborhoods. Renovations will include a roof replacement, water and sewer upgrades, a new HVAC system, lighting and security enhancements, and a commercial kitchen. 

• $100,000 for Anthony L. Jordan Health Corporation. Jordan Health provides health care directly in historically marginalized communities, including some of the poorest zip codes in our city and state. This ROC Grant will go towards the purchase of a Mobile Maternal Health vehicle, serving pregnant women and new parents across the region. With barriers to transportation often serving as the most significant obstacles to care in underserved communities, this mobile unit will bring crucial health care services directly to patients and improve neo-natal outcomes in our region. 

• $50,000 for Oak Orchard Health. Oak Orchard Health is a trusted health center in our rural communities, serving 34,000 patients a year including migrant workers at local farms. The ROC Grant will contribute to a larger renovation that will seek to better integrate Oak Orchard’s Behavioral Health and Medical Services. Currently, their Behavioral Health specialists are not in a centralized location, this reorganization would allow them to better serve the mental health needs of rural patients in our community. 

Quotes from Grant Recipients:

Angelica Perez-Delgado, President and CEO of the Ibero American Action League said, "We are incredibly grateful to receive ROC grant funding to replace the aging HVAC system in our Early Childhood Center. Child care is an essential service, but the reimbursements leave us operating in deficit rather than margin—making necessary facility upgrades nearly impossible without support. This investment directly impacts the health, comfort, and well-being of the children and families we serve, as well as our dedicated staff. Thanks to this grant, we can continue providing high-quality care in a safe and welcoming environment. We thank Senator Cooney and the ROC Grants initiative for recognizing the vital role early childhood education plays in our community.”

“We are grateful for Senator Cooney’s support, which gives Urban League of Rochester the opportunity to innovate and continue serving our community in a building that reflects our mission and advances our work,” said Seanelle Hawkins, President and CEO.

“We are deeply grateful to Senator Jeremy Cooney for his leadership and investment in Willow’s Pet Program. Nearly half of survivors delay leaving an abusive relationship out of fear for their pet’s safety. With this funding, we can continue supporting survivors and their pets, ensuring families do not have to make the impossible choice between safety and staying with their beloved companions,” said Meaghan de Chateauvieux, President & CEO, Willow Domestic Violence Center.

“We are deeply grateful to Senator Cooney and the ROC Grants program for investing in the safety and well-being of people impacted by substance use and our dedicated team that supports them. These funds will allow us to make critical safety upgrades and address essential heating and cooling needs, ensuring our building remains a welcoming, secure place where individuals can begin recovery, find hope, and access the care they deserve,” said Jennifer Cathy, LMSW, President & CEO, Delphi Rise.

"We are excited to be named one of Senator Cooney’s grant recipients," said Dr. Linda Clark, President and CEO of Anthony L. Jordan Health. "Now is the time to forge ahead and explore new ways to enhance maternal health."

Emily Clasper, Director of Rochester Public Library said, “We are incredibly grateful to Senator Jeremy Cooney for securing this vital funding. These upgrades will allow us to improve both safety and access to technology across all of our branch libraries, ensuring that every member of our community, regardless of background, has a secure and welcoming space to learn, connect, and thrive. In a time when reductions in federal support have impacted so many essential services, this investment helps us continue to bridge the digital divide and meet the evolving needs of the people we serve.”

Deborah Stamps, Dean of Membership and Charter President, Beta Chi Chi Inc. said, “Guided by their motto, ‘Service for Humanity,’ Beta Chi Chi, Inc. a nonprofit, professional nursing organization is transforming the historic St. Stephen’s Church into a Health Hub an innovative center addressing health promotion, disease prevention, and inspires future healthcare leaders while addressing the social determinants of health in Rochester. This grant is not just about restoring a building, it is about transforming a historic landmark into a beacon of service, innovation, and opportunity that will strengthen Rochester for generations to come.”

Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health said, “This vital funding will enable Oak Orchard to expand and enhance the integration of behavioral health and primary care services at our Brockport location. With this investment, we will strengthen our whole-person care model, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive, coordinated services that address both physical and mental health needs in a seamless and accessible environment. We extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Cooney and his team for their commitment to advancing community health and for recognizing the importance of integrated care in improving outcomes for the people we serve."

Special Touch Bakery is honored to receive this grant, which will make it possible to equip our bakery with the essential equipment needed to expand opportunities for people of all abilities,” said Donna Dedee of Special Touch Bakery.

Dr. Junior Dillion, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Upstate New York said, “The ROC grant removes the final barrier to opening medical respite beds at Volunteers of America. It'll allow us to provide not only safe housing for homeless individuals but also the dignity that come with proper recovery and care.”

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