About the Nyack Cares Initiative
The Village of Nyack created the Nyack Cares Initiative to help make our downtown and waterfront area an even better place to dine, drink, shop, and visit. The Nyack Cares Initiative has two main elements: (1) The Nyack Cares Fund, and (2) the new Village Constables.
Make a Donation that Makes a Difference
The goal of the Nyack Cares Fund is to provide Nyack residents and visitors an alternative to giving money to panhandlers on the street.
Nyack Cares gives you a way to donate directly to a fund that will give grants to charitable organizations providing services to people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, drug addiction, and other challenges. The Nyack Cares Fund is maintained by the Rockland Community Foundation. 100% of every donation goes directly to local organizations that provide those services within the Village of Nyack.
People in Nyack and our visitors have big hearts and are sensitive to the needs of people who are forced by the challenging circumstances of their lives to resort to panhandling. But by giving on the street, residents incentivize even more people to come to Nyack to panhandle, some of whom will also cross the line from the simple panhandling that is protected First Amendment speech to more aggressive panhandling, harassment, and other potentially criminal conduct.
The problem is that a campaign to discourage people from giving money to panhandlers on the street can seem uncaring. Nyack people are especially sensitive to social justice issues, and telling them not give to the unfortunate feels contrary to the fundamental ethos of our Village.
So instead of simply telling people not to give on the street, Nyack Cares provides a much more impactful way to help. If you feel an urge to give on the street, you can instead go on your phone and with a few taps make donations of any amount to the Nyack Cares Fund, Every dollar of donations of which will go to hyper-local organizations treating the root causes that drive panhandling. Your donations will be invested back into our community without encouraging more panhandling that has such a deleterious impact on Nyack’s downtown street life.
In other words, “make a donation that will make a difference.”
The Nyack Cares Fund
The Nyack Cares Fund is a donor fund with the United Way that supports programs to address the root causes of panhandling, providing you with a meaningful alternative to giving money directly to panhandlers on the street. Every dollar donated goes to hyper-local organizations that provide programs address the root causes of societal challenges like homelessness, addiction, food insecurity, and mental illness.
The Village Constables
To help supplement the excellent efforts by the Orangetown Police Department, Nyack is hiring Village Constables who will patrol the downtown and riverfront areas to help maintain the order, safety, and cleanliness of the streets. The Constables are not police officers, but they will be empowered to enforce Village Codes against noise, littering, and similar quality-of-life issues.
The Board of Advisors
The Board of Advisors for the Nyack Cares Fund administers the funds raised, including soliciting funding proposals for programs and making decisions on any grants made. The Board works along with the United Way of Rockland in managing the funds and guiding the organization. All the members of the Board have direct connections to Nyack, including residents, business owners, and leaders in our nonprofit community.
Cheryl Baun
Cheryl is the co-owner of Karenderya, a casual restaurant in Nyack focused on Filipino-inspired cuisine that was named in Esquire's list of the "Best New Restaurants in America" in 2018.
Cheryl is also extensively involved in our local community, serving as the executive director of the Arts Council of Rockland and is on the board of the Rockland Business Women's Network.
Carl Cameu
Carl Cameu is the owner of two businesses in the Nyack downtown district, including Hudson Spectacles and The Parker. He is also a member of the Nyack Business Council and the Nyack Chamber of Commerce.
Phyllis Frank
Phyllis Frank has had a legendary career working on social justice causes in Rockland County, as President of the NOW Rockland chapter, the Associate Executive Director of VCS, Inc., and a founding member of the Center for Safety and Change, where she currently serves as Executive Program Director. She is also currently a board member of the Phyllis B. Frank Rockland Pride Center, named for her in 2022. She is a Nyack resident.
Nicole Hines
Nicole Hines is currently the President of the legendary Nyack Branch for the NAACP, where she manages one of the most important civil rights organizations in Rockland County.. She is also the Director of Community Engagement and Social Change for the Center for Safety and Change, which provides vital services to the survivors of gender-based violence. She is a Nyack resident.
Matt Koke
Matt Koke is the Director of Community Engagement at the Phyllis B. Frank Pride Center in Nyack, where he lives with his family.
Louise Parker
Louise Parker served many years as a Trustee and Deputy Mayor for the Village of Nyack Board of Trustees, and is currently a Nyack resident involved in myriad community nonprofits.
EX OFFICIO -- Joe Rand
Joe Rand serves as an ex officio member of the Nyack Cares Board of Fund Advisors. He is the Mayor of the Village of Nyack, and previously served as Trustee and Deputy Mayor. He has worked with numerous Rockland nonprofits, including serving as the Vice-Chair for the Board of Trustees, Vice-Chair for the United Hospice Board, and on committees for People to People, the Center of Safety and Change, the Edward Hopper Museum and Study Center, Venture Forward, and others. He does not engage in decisions on administering the funds, but is a liaison between the Board and the Village, and works directly on the fundraising campaign for Nyack Cares.
