Huntington Station, New York – February 14th, 2024 – The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB), has awarded $150,000 to Health & Welfare Council of Long Island. The grant is part of the second round of giving through the Amplify Fund providing more than $8.2 million to 68 lead nonprofit organizations throughout New England, Long Island, and Rockland County, NY.

“On behalf of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, I am grateful that we have been awarded the Amplify Grant from the M&T Charitable Foundation,” said Vanessa Baird Streeter, President and CEO. “With this recognition and support, our organization can help a network of providers and community-based organizations hire, train, integrate, and retain Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs play a vital role in enhancing the health of individuals and communities and this initiative will boost the growth of this sector within the public health workforce.”

HWCLI provides a host of direct services and opportunities that are dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents. We operate a series of programs and coalitions that address health equity, nutritional security, access to affordable healthcare, and economic security. Together with our network of nonprofits, we are able provide a unique and crucial safety net for our Long Island neighbors.

“Through the Amplify Fund, we are committed to continuing our partnership with organizations like Health & Welfare Council of Long Island that work hand-in-hand with community members in the field to provide the critical resources and programming necessary to truly make a difference,” said Dominique Goss, Executive Director of the M&T Charitable Foundation. “At M&T, addressing the institutionalized and systemic issues preventing disadvantaged communities from accessing opportunities and achieving long-term success is key to our mission as a community bank. We are proud to provide the Amplify Fund as a difference-making resource in the communities we serve.” 

First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable program to provide further support in the legacy People’s United communities. The first round of funding totaled more than $11.8 million to 105 nonprofit organizations and focused on equity and environmental initiatives, mission-driven and capacity-building work, community and tenant organizing, and financial empowerment and education for individuals and small businesses. 

Phase II of the Amplify Fund focused on providing funding, for up to three years, to nonprofit collaboratives working together toward a common goal for solving a specific social issue, to help advance equity in the following key areas of focus: 

• Family Stability: Affordable housing, food security, and access to quality and affordable childcare.
• Income & Wealth Equity: Employment, small business development, homeownership, and financial empowerment initiatives. 
• Workforce Development: Education and training opportunities focused on upskilling and career pathways in high-growth sectors leading to economic prosperity. 
• Health Equity: Access to quality and affordable healthcare, with a priority on youth mental health and women and infant health. 

The Amplify Fund is designed to drive sustainable impact that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to local needs. Regional representatives of the bank will continue to meet with local leaders to help inform the strategic direction for the Fund’s third round. 

For more information on the Amplify Fund, including the full list of grant recipients in New England and Metro New York, please visit the Amplify Fund website.  

About M&T Charitable Foundation 

The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1993 and funded by M&T Bank. The M&T Charitable Foundation awards nearly $40 million in grants per year to thousands of nonprofit organizations focused on improving the quality of life in the areas the bank serves. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.