February 2007

Dear Friends, Family, and Grantees:

Happy New Year! Hope this year bring you all the best.

In my new role as Chairman, I take great pleasure in providing you information on the accomplishments of the Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation, a legacy left behind by Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi. Since their passing in October 2005, the Foundation has worked to uphold their mission, vision and values in its grant making. This newsletter is the Foundation's initiative to keep family, friends and grantees connected to the important work started by Tom Elmezzi. The following is an update on the Foundation program areas and active grants.

Until date, the Foundation's grant making has largely been concentrated in the following areas:

Youth Development/Youth Services: The focus of grants in this area is to provide growth and support to socio-economically disadvantaged youth through mentoring, arts and after-school programs that focus on academic achievement. Under this area, we have funded several projects such as a Performing Arts Program at the Hall Neighborhood House in Bridgeport Connecticut, a literacy development program at Street Squash in New York City, a mentoring program at Big Brothers Big Sisters in Connecticut and an after-school social skills development program for children with autism and other disabilities at the Westchester Exceptional Children's School in Westchester, New York.

In December 2005, we launched the Ravenswood II 'I Have a Dream Program', an after-school academic and social support program that works with low-income third and fourth graders residing in the Ravenswood Housing Project in Long Island City, Queens. The goal of this program is to work with this same group of children until they graduate from high school and get accepted to college. Upon achieving this milestone the Foundation provides them with funds towards their college tuition. This is the second year of the program and currently we have 54 children enrolled. Our goal is to reach 70 children by the end of the year and past that the program will not accept any new participants. The program is held Monday to Thursday at PS 112 in Queens from 3.00pm to 6.00pm. Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for field trips and social activities.

Services for the Elderly: The focus of this program area is to make grants that provide enrichment programs to improve the quality of life for the elderly. Currently, we fund a Creative Arts Therapy Program at the Hebrew Hospital Home in Westchester. Mr. Elmezzi was a Board member of Hebrew Hospital for several years and the Foundation plans on continuing this relationship for several years to come. The Foundation also funds an Intergenerational Chore and Escort Program at the Forest Hills Community House in Queens.

I visited this program in December 2006 along with another Board member and Foundation staff and was delighted to meet with some of the youth in the program and hear first hand of their positive experiences with this program.

Patient Care and Medical Research: Through this program, the Foundation supports cutting edge medical research and / or services that improve the quality of life of people suffering from various medical conditions. Due to the ailments suffered by Mr. & Mrs. Elmezzi as well as some of his family, the areas of focus within this program are Neurology, Cardiology, Oncology, and Patient Care. Grants will largely be made at Northshore Hospital in Long Island due to Mr. Elmezzi's long term relationship with this institute. Currently, we fund two studies at Northshore Hospital- Dr. Klein and Dr. Hartman's clinical and basic study to use the Thyroid Hormone Treatment in patients of cardiac surgery to reduce complications post-surgery and Dr. Liu's study on using Color M-mode and Tissue Doppler Imaging in the Echocardiographic assessment of LV Diastolic Filling Pressures.

Special Programs/Post Disaster Relief: Through its special grants program, the Foundation is able to respond to project requests and meet significant needs outside of the Foundation's principal program areas such as grants to local churches. Under this area, the Foundation has also provided some emergency relief funding post September 11th. Also, in response to certain situations and needs, the Foundation has made grants to various organizations domiciled in Mexico. Presently, the Foundation is evaluating some grant making strategies to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina and rebuilding efforts. We have also funded the development of a computer lab at St. Aloysius Church as well as provided funds to fix the church roof and windows. For 2007, the Foundation will establish ties with some of the churches that were significant to Thomas & Jeanne Elmezzi.

Education: In early 2006, the Foundation started the process of established its Education Funding Initiative. Owing to the dismal high school graduation rates in New York City public schools, the Foundation recognized the need to improve the quality of education available to low-income and disadvantaged populations in New York City public schools. Tom Elmezzi was fortunate to rise above his challenges (socio-economic) and be successful. However, there are hundreds of students who are not as fortunate. Therefore, under its Education Funding Initiative, the Foundation embarked on a mission to improve the lives of public school students by partnering with The Urban Assembly Inc., a NYC Department of Education Intermediary Organization to establish and grade six through twelve small public school in New York City that is slated to open in September 2007. Foundation staff along with our school leader and with the support of The Urban Assembly, presented their school proposal to the Office of New Schools at the Department of Education on December 14, 2006. Currently we are awaiting the DOE's approval.

Besides the continuing our existing projects and the probable start of a public school in 2007, the Foundation is also looking into grant programs that reflect Jeanne Elmezzi's interests.

I will keep you posted about the new, exciting developments at the Foundation. Please keep checking our website for periodic updates.

Sincerely,
Jose Rivero
Chairman