Support Our Neighbors by Giving to the Columbia Community Service 79th Annual Appeal

Dear members of the Columbia, Barnard, and Teachers College communities,
 
Being part of our community means being part of something bigger—in the world and right here in New York City. And, as New Yorkers, we have a special obligation to look out for those in our community who need additional care and support—especially when they are our neighbors in Upper Manhattan. 
 
For nearly eight decades, Columbia Community Service (CCS) has stood as a lifeline for our neighbors. The program channels support to more than 50 local organizations that serve some of our most vulnerable residents—the homeless, older adults, low-income families, and children. It also funds programs that help students with autism, teach young people new skills, and feed those who are hungry.
 
While the critical role these nonprofits play has never been more important, they are facing unprecedented challenges right now. These include government funding cuts, policy shifts that restrict resources, rising costs, and surging demand from communities in crisis. The organizations that depend on CCS funding consistently report that these grants are not supplementary but essential to their survival, making faculty, staff, and retiree participation in the CCS Annual Appeal more urgent than ever.

We are asking you to join us in this annual tradition, which stretches back 79 years, to ensure that our community—the community where we work and where many of us live—can continue to thrive. Your past generosity has been invaluable, but our work remains. In addition to funding much-needed services, CCS facilitates in-kind contributions, volunteer opportunities, and workshops that connect the Columbia, Barnard, and Teachers College communities to grantees. In the last two years, CCS-supported food pantries have also served more than 2.5 million people through soup kitchens, community fridges, and referrals.
 
We believe that when our closest neighbors have what they need, we all benefit. If you are able, please help us reinvest in our Upper Manhattan community. CCS’s work is made possible through the generous donations of the faculty and staff of Columbia, Barnard, and Teachers College.
 
Please make your gift today: 100% of your donations go to grantees. All overhead costs are absorbed by Columbia’s central administration, which means that every contribution, no matter the amount, will have an impact on those who need our support. You can also give the gift of time.
 
Thank you for keeping this tradition going. Everyone at Columbia Community Service thanks you in advance for supporting our neighbors and helping us serve our community.

Sincerely,

Claire Shipman
Acting President, Columbia University

Laura Rosenbury
President, Barnard College

Thomas R. Bailey
President, Teachers College