By Dave Cucchiara Communications & Program Associate Routine aspects of life that are often overlooked by the general population can pose considerable challenges for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). From accessing basic healthcare services to securing suitable housing to finding consistent employment, neurodivergent individuals must often navigate unique societal challenges. The families who support these individuals, too, shoulder…
By Dave Cucchiara Communications & Program Associate Nature offers us more than just beauty — it nurtures our well-being, fuels our creativity, and provides the essential resources that sustain life. Yet, beyond what we take from the natural world, there is a growing need to give back, ensuring that future generations inherit a planet as rich and vibrant as the…
By David Cucchiara Communications & Program Associate The F. M. Kirby Foundation Board of Directors announced 266 grants totaling $16,819,450 were made in 2024 to nonprofit organizations working to increase the strength and vitality of their communities. A total of 150 grants provided general operating support, while 108 grants were awarded to organizations that have partnered with the Foundation for…
The F. M. Kirby Foundation is pleased to celebrate 20 years of continuous partnership with the Regional Plan Association (RPA), an independent non-profit civic organization. Since 1929, RPA has released four long-term plans to guide the growth and development of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut Metropolitan Area. These initiatives are credited with enhancing the region’s economic vitality, improving environmental sustainability, and…
By Dave Cucchiara Communications & Program Associate Budget cuts, economic recessions, and shifting priorities have gutted arts education from our public schools over the last decade. From performing arts like band, orchestra, and theater to visual arts like photography, drawing, and ceramics, this coursework is critical to fostering creativity and inspiring the next generation to reshape American art. The F.…
By Dave Cucchiara Communications & Program Associate The F. M. Kirby Foundation Board of Directors announced 103 grants totaling $10,669,250 were approved in the first half of 2024 to nonprofit organizations working to increase the strength and vitality of our communities. In all, 58 grants included general operating support and 54 grants were made to organizations that have been partners…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate The F. M. Kirby Foundation is pleased to welcome a new team member. David Cucchiara has joined the organization as a Communications and Program Associate, effective June 25th. David joins the Foundation with experience in both nonprofit development and strategic communications. After beginning his career in journalism, David spent six years with Wakefern Food Corporation…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate When Dr. Christina Liparini began her undergraduate education in 1995, she was pursuing an English degree with dreams of becoming a high school teacher. Early in her education, she realized that the transition into college was not going to be an easy one. At the time, mental health was not yet something openly discussed, leaving…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate Ruth Kaluski has seen a lot of change in the thirty years she has worked in the mental health field. Beginning her career in rehabilitation counseling in 1989, Ruth entered the world of clinical mental health services at a time when conversations about mental illness were clouded by stigma and bias. Now serving as the…
By Gina Beviglia Program Associate Dr. Luke Smith relocated from Arkansas to North Carolina following medical school to pursue a career in adult and childhood psychiatry. As he became more involved in his new community, Dr. Smith realized there was a pressing need for mental health services offered in Spanish. Driven by his newfound commitment to bridging this gap in…