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JRM Announces 2018 Community Impact Grants

Three awards will support education, health, and food security organizations across NYC

JRM, a Manhattan-based construction management and general contracting firm named one of NYC’s fastest growing companies by Crain’s, is continuing its tradition of giving back to the community with the announcement of its third cycle of Community Impact Grants. The company has awarded $75,000 in grants across three impact areas: Education/Youth, Health, and Housing/Food Security.

“We are delighted to announce our support of these three outstanding organizations” said JRM President Joe Romano. “In a highly competitive process, these groups stood out as providing some of the most innovative and impactful programs in New York City today. We look forward to partnering on these exciting projects.”

Housing/Food Security

Teens for Food Justice 

Teens for Food Justice is building a youth-led movement to end food insecurity in one generation. TFFJ youth masters the high-tech science and business of hydroponic farming, growing large quantities of produce inside of their schools, plus the skills to serve as health/nutrition ambassadors and food justice movement builders within their own food communities. JRM’s grant will be used for general operating support for the expansion of the Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) farm to four additional sites in New York City, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan that will exponentially increase their farm production to 90,000lbs of produce annually and impact 10,000 students.

Health

Her Justice     

JRM’s grant will be used to support its Hospital Outreach Initiative—an innovative medical/legal partnership with NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, a maternal and pediatric health clinic in Sunset Park. The Initiative provides vital early intervention to protect mothers, infants and older children from abuse and its physical, psychological, social and emotional health consequences.  Onsite at a trusted health care provider, we reach women who are unaware that legal remedies exist to help them and unlikely to seek outside assistance.  Since domestic violence often begins or escalates during pregnancy, offering services to this population fills an especially critical need. Since 1993, Her Justice has been committed to the safety and physical, mental and social well-being of impoverished women and children in New York City.

Education/Youth

Cerebral Palsy of Westchester 

Outdoor play helps children develop physical and social skills and build confidence. However, disabled children have very few play opportunities and exercise 4 ½ times less than children without disabilities. JRM’s funds will be used for equipment for Harmony Park, a new playground and sensory garden that will benefit Special Education students (86% use wheelchairs) and hundreds of other children/adults who attend evening, weekend, summer camp and other CPW programs. Harmony Park will be unique in Westchester and give youth with disabilities a much-loved opportunity to experience outdoor play and be included in normal childhood activities. It will be the first adaptive sensory playground in Westchester that gives children with mobility issues entirely new opportunities to play, exercise, socialize, and engage with nature.

“Since our inception in 2007, JRM has been committed to supporting local causes,” said JRM’s CEO David McWilliams. “These grants will allow us to make an even more significant impact on the issues important to our firm, our employees, and the communities where we live and operate. Congratulations to all the winners.”