Community Center gets a $2 million state boost

State Assemblymember Dana Levenberg, Community Center of Northern Westchester Executive Director Clare Murray and Assemblymember Chris Burdick announcing a $2 million state grant at the group’s gala.

The Community Center of Northern Westchester will be the recipient of a $2 million grant from New York state, the organization announced Oct. 4.

State Assemblymembers Chris Burdick and Dana Levenberg secured the funding in the 2025 state budget, and made the announcement at Friday’s CCNW gala.

The Katonah-based nonprofit provides food, clothing, and other resources and programs designed to promote well-being and self-sufficiency among low-income residents throughout the region. 

The organization is preparing to break ground on a major expansion project that will include renovations of their existing facility along with the construction of a 3,500-square-foot addition. 

The funding secured by Burdick and Levenberg will be used for site development and laying the foundation for the expanded facility. 

“We are so grateful for this extraordinarily generous award,” said Clare Murray, executive director of CCNW. “Thank you, Assemblymember Burdick and Assemblywoman Levenberg, for caring for our entire community so deeply, and for believing in us and our mission. This will enable us to right-size our home and continue to improve the lives of so many of our friends and neighbors when they need us most.” 

The expansion will enable CCNW to enlarge its food pantry, add an elevator for universal access, provide new meeting spaces for client services, and build a classroom to enhance its educational programming. 

This will not only improve the organization’s ability to meet our community’s needs but also provide the flexibility for future challenges.

“Every day, the Community Center of Northern Westchester provides food, clothing, and other types of assistance to those in our community, no questions asked,” Burdick said in a statement. “It is truly an amazing organization that brings transformational change to hundreds of families across northern Westchester.”

“The Community Center of Northern Westchester serves many people in my district, helping individuals and families to stabilize themselves during times of acute need and providing resources to help them get ahead,” Levenberg said. “I am so pleased to join my colleague, Assemblymember Chris Burdick, in supporting this worthy organization with a grant that will help turbocharge their ability to serve our communities.”