Bulk of Support Designed to Inspire the Next Generation of Building Industry Leaders

The New York Building Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the New York Building Congress, recently awarded five grants and three scholarships, totaling $70,000, to a range of organizations. A large portion of the Foundation’s financial support is for programs designed to recruit, educate, mentor and inspire the next generation of design,
construction and real estate professionals.

New York Building Foundation Chairman Richard L. masetti said, “Since its inception a decade ago, the Building Foundation has worked to promote the long-term growth and well being of the industry and New York City through a series of research, educational and philanthropic activities. This round of financial support, I believe, illustrates the organization’s desire to give back to the community while introducing tomorrow’s leaders to the exciting opportunities available to them in the building industry.”

Recent Building Foundation support includes:

• A $5,000 college scholarship for a graduating student of Alfred E. Smith High School in the Bronx.The school’s mission is to provide students solid preparation for college and training for employment in pre-engineering, building trades and other vocations.
• The Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction in Manhattan was awarded $5,000 for scholarships to two graduating high school seniors. The school enriches its challenging academic program with the active involvement of architecture and design professionals and partnerships with cultural institutions and universities.
• The ACE Mentor Program of Greater New York, which nurtures the next generation of professionals through project-oriented mentoring relationships with accomplished architects, engineers and construction managers, was awarded $10,000 for scholarships to two of the high school graduates in its program.
• The Building Foundation’s Hennessy Fund is financing a $10,000 fellowship to investigate an innovative construction site improvement program, which seeks to help owners of building sites take voluntary steps to improve the look, feel and safety of building sites around New York.
• Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) was awarded $10,000 to continue its New York Building Foundation Career Advancement Fund, which assists in providing training opportunities and funding resources for women-owned small businesses.
• A $10,000 grant was awarded to the Salvadori Center to support the Center’s Annual Charrette, where 100 children come together for a design challenge while being mentored by architects, engineers and construction professionals.
• The Picture House Regional Film Center in Pelham was awarded $5,000 over two years as part of an effort to reconfigure the historic Westchester theatre, which opened during the silent movie era, as a multi-purpose educational facility.
• An additional $15,000 was awarded to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, bringing the total contribution from the Building Congress and the Foundation to $100,000.