Three Red Hook non-profits are finalists in inaugural SPARK prize, by Red Hook Star-Revue staff

Twenty SPARK Prize finalists have been chosen among a pool of 150 applicants. Seventeen ae Brooklyn-based organizations, including three from Red Hook: Dance Theater Etcetera (DTE); Red Hook Initiative (RHI); and the Red Hook Community Justice Center (RHCJC).

The SPARK Prize of $100,000 will be awarded to five of the chosen finalists from the Brooklyn Community Foundation (BCF). They have partnered with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to launch a new campaign called Brooklyn Gives.

All 20 finalists are also eligible for a $5,000 matching grant. Any money they raise on Giving Tuesday – a national day of philanthropy designated for donations to nonprofits – will be matched by BCF.

“Brooklyn is home to nearly 3,000 nonprofits, yet they collectively receive less than 5% of funds distributed by New York City foundations,” said Brooklyn Community Foundation President and CEO Cecilia Clarke. “We created the Spark Prize to drive support to the borough’s vibrant nonprofit sector and showcase outstanding community-led solutions addressing Brooklyn’s most critical challenges.

Each of Red Hook’s finalists are unique and important neighborhood assets. DTE, founded in 1994, uses the arts and art education as a vehicle of social transformation. RHI began as a program in a local hospital in 2002, and has three youth development programs designed to nurture and support teens and young adults facing systematic inequalities. RHCJC is community court that hears civil, family, and criminal cases from three police precincts. It also offers remediation and conflict resolution services, and has been in operation since 2002.

To support DTE, RHI and RHCJC, donate online on Giving Tuesday, which falls on November 29 this year. For more information about each organization and how to donate, visit their websites.