Carve for a Cause

Past Recipients

Because of your generous support we have raised over $600,000 to help meet critical unmet need for families and children in Ulster County since 2007. See our recipients below:

2020 – Unshattered
Unshattered offers women the freedom to live an addiction-free life. Job skills training and employment, paired with personal development, provides a pathway to financial independence and sustained sobriety. Under the leadership of Kelly Lyndgaard, this very special nonprofit social enterprise teaches women to create designer-quality handbags from upcycled materials. There have been ZERO relapses in 4 years of employment for the women of Unshattered. During COVID-19, Unshattered pivoted production to making surgical masks. They have made nearly 9,000 masks for 260 local hospitals, medical facilities and nurshing homes.
For a closer look at their work go to this link: www.unshattered.org/c4c

2019 – People’s Place Café
The funding from Carve for a Cause is being used to renovate and set up the café space where they anticipate serving 100 people per day. The People’s Place Café will provide healthy meals to families or individuals who are experiencing food insecurities, financial stresses or are in need of social contact. There will be no charge for any food or drink offered at the People’s Place Café.
In all of Ulster County, there are only 3 soup kitchens, none of them are in Kingston, nor do any of them operate every day. Your support this year, will help to fill this void, create a pleasant café environment for anyone to dine, taking away the stigma sometimes associated with many soup kitchens and improve the quality of life through access to a healthy diet and social interaction.

2018 – Peaceful Guardians Project
The goal of the Peaceful Guardian Project is to bridge the often tense divide between police officers and youth of color. It will enable police officers as well as African-American and Latino youth to put their best selves forward in support of one another. This is done through a compelling and comprehensive 12-week program, whereby officers and youth become both teachers and learners through a mutually supportive learning environment fostering greater understanding, empathy and trust. While the PGP initiative will begin in the City of Kingston, their long-term strategic plan includes replicating this model in similar cities across the Hudson Valley and NY State.
PGP Launch Overview

2017 – ST. JOHN BOSCO CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES – $50,000
$50,000 was raised to create a Recreational Therapy Center. St. John Bosco Child and Family Services was founded in 2003 to care for abandoned, neglected, abused and/or dependent children. STBSC currently serves the most at-risk children living in 3 residential homes in Wallkill, Walden and New Paltz. The Recreational Therapy Center will provide a safe setting emphasizing positive psychological and social skill sets, along with a wide range of physical recreational activities.

2016 – ST. JOHN BOSCO CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES – $20,000
Purchased generators for 3 Foster Care homes in Walden, New Paltz and Wallkill.
www.stjohnboscocfs.org

2016 – FOOD BANK OF THE HUDSON VALLEY – $20,000
To initiate a Senior Grocery Program for at risk seniors in Ulster County.

2016 – RONDOUT VALLEY GROWER’S ASSOCIATION – $10,000
Supporting the Farm to Food Pantry Program.

2016 – CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE – $10,000
Personal Safety Program for the Ulster County School District.
www.thecpca.com

2016 – TMI PROJECT – $10,000
To fund “A Call To Men” – educational/documentary/workshop targeted to Kingston High School boys in an effort to end violence against women.

2016 – CENTER FOR SPECTRUM SERVICES – $5,000
To purchase new equipment for their Sensory Library.
www.centerforspectrumservices.org

2016 – RAISING HOPE – $5,000
To support their women’s mentoring program.

2016 – CARVE FOR A CAUSE – $2,500
Supported daycare, after school and summer camp programs for children in need in Ulster County.

2015 – CARVE FOR A CAUSE CHILDCARE FUND – $30,000
This supports scholarships for 170 low-income children to attend local day care, after school and summer camp programs through the YMCA, YWCA and the Center for Creative Education. High quality day childcare for working families as been proven to promote healthy youth development, increase academic success and provide children with the building blocks they need for a positive future.

2015 – THE CARVE FOR A CAUSE BACKPACK PROGRAM – $30,000
This provides 60 low-income students with child-friendly, shelf sustainable food to eat during the weekends when school breakfast and lunch are not available. The BackPack Program is in partnership with the Food Bank of The Hudson Valley and supports 30 elementary students in both the New Paltz and Ellenville School districts for 3 years!

2014 – THE CENTER FOR SPECTRUM SERVICES – $65,000
Design and build a custom playground for students attending The Center for Spectrum Services, a school specializing in Autistic children’s education.
www.centerforspectrumservices.org

2013 – THE CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE – $30,000
Funded Personal Safety Program teaching 5000 Ulster County pre-k through 6th grade students how to stay safe with an emphasis on sexual abuse prevention.
www.thecpca.com

2012 – PROJECT HOPE – $20,000
Supported 40 women in an ongoing mentoring program dedicated to disadvantaged women in Ulster County who are striving to take the first steps toward self-sufficiency.
www.hopesfund.org

2011 – Carve for a Cause 5th Anniversary – $50,000
We dispersed $10,000 to each past recipient to support and maintain their ongoing programs and mission.

2010 – THE FARM TO FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM – $20,000
Distribution of fresh produce from local farms (often the most difficult to obtain) to soup kitchens and food pantries across Ulster County.

2009 – THE QUEEN’S GALLEY SOUP KITCHEN – $30,000
$30,000 was raised to help serve over 30,000 meals to anyone in need in Ulster County.
www.thequeensgalley.org

2008 – FAMILY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES – $24,000
Completely renovated the playroom and living room for Washbourne Residence Women’s Shelter in Kingston, NY.
www.familydomesticviolence.org

2007 – ST. JOHN BOSCO CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES – $18,000
Purchased new bedding and furniture for every foster care child served in New Paltz and Wallkill. New roof provided for girl’s home in Walden.
www.stjohnboscocfs.org

Because of our dedication to the community and their dedication to Carve for a Cause, we have been able to extend our giving beyond one annual event recipient.

Here are a few examples:

CASA – $1,000
Created Emergency fund for foster care children going through the court system in Ulster County.
www.casaulster.org

RESOURCE CENTER FOR ACCESSIBLE LIVING – $7,000
We created the Carve for a Cause job placement program for moderately disabled residents of Ulster County.
www.rcal.com

2021 Event Artist: Rosie Roggeman