COVID Response funding The Illumination Fund undertook three strategies to respond to the pandemic: coordinating with other funders to identify needs and gaps and to amplify collective efforts; bolstering the work of long-time grantees to help them pivot, and addressing the disproportionate impact on low-income…
Launch of New York City Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine Launched a partnership with New York City Health + Hospitals to expand the hospital system’s Arts in Medicine programs serving health care staff, patients, and communities in sites across the City.
Launch of Arts in Health Announced a $10 million initiative to support organizations that utilize the arts as a tool for healing and for building understanding of critical societal issues such as mental health stigma and trauma.
Launch of Healthy Food & Community Change Launched a 5-year, $15 million commitment to advance novel strategies to increase access, availability, affordability, and knowledge of healthy foods and promote healthy choices, specifically targeting programs in high-need neighborhoods and creating hubs of activities and community engagement.
Rollout of NYC Green Cart Initiative Began a multi-year partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy to create a new network of street vendors to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in high-poverty neighborhoods…
Launch of national service initiatives and NYC service year programs Began 10 years of support for public service initiatives in New York City with the Mayor’s NYC Service programs and with Be the Change and its ServiceNation movement- building campaigns.
Creation of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Founded by philanthropist Laurie M. Tisch, building upon her decades of leadership in nonprofits and civic affairs