About Us
Council 1869 is a collaborative of individuals, families, corporations, and local businesses committed to breaking the cycle of poverty and providing equitable opportunities to families living in our most under-resourced communities. We partner with the most trusted and proven programs by making high impact gifts to make noticeable and scalable change.
The name Council 1869 is in recognition of the place our founding Board of Directors call home - Garden City, NY. In 1869, The Village of Garden City was established to be one of the first planned suburbs in the country. For generations, families and businesses have worked hard to make Garden City the strong and vibrant community it is today. We feel a strong sense of responsibility to deepen the positive impact that our community has on Long Island and beyond.
Pillars of our work
At the heart of everything we do, is the drive to build a more equitable world. We stand by our pillars and believe they are the foundation of creating equal opportunity.
Education
The zip code you are born in should not determine your ability to succeed in school. Access to quality education and school readiness are key factors in closing the achievement gap.
When parents have the resources and tools they need to help their children be successful students, the likelihood that the family will escape poverty is significantly increased.
Health
Health equity should never be determined by someone’s social position or other socially determined circumstances. We believe that every single person should have the opportunity to attain their full health potential. Health inequities are reflected in differences in length of life; quality of life; rates of disease, disability, and death; severity of disease; and access to treatment.
Community
Community is at the center of everything we do. We bring our own community together to raise dollars for, and awareness of, deep rooted social issues. We work with programs and organizations that are embedded in under-resourced communities and offer them grants and additional supports.
The strength and sustainability of our community is essential to achieving our support goals.
