Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch founded Greenwich House on Thanksgiving Day in 1902 to improve the living conditions for immigrants. Now, 120 years later, our work stays true to Smikhovitch’s original vision of establishing a community hub of social services and the arts for all New Yorkers. Today, Greenwich House enriches the lives of New Yorkers of all ages through arts and education programs, older adult services, and social and mental health services.
In 2022, Greenwich House held a series of events to celebrate 120 years of service to the community.
Greenwich House kicked off its milestone anniversary celebration with an event in Washington Square Park, featuring musical performances highlighting genres from over the past 120 years, tablescape pottery, musical instrument petting zoo, face painting, workshops on tai chi, art making, and training on NARCAN administration.
The Greenwich House Older Adult Network boogied down at a “Dance Through the Ages” prom-style event, featuring music from across the decades.
At our 120th Anniversary Benefit, Greenwich House raised mission-critical funds to support our arts and education, older adult services, and mental and behavioral health programs, and also for needed renovations and repairs to our historic West Village buildings and spaces.
Thank you for your support!
Government Funders
Special Thanks to our Friends and Close Partners
In 2023, Greenwich House rebranded its longstanding Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program to the Center for Healing to better reflect its holistic, trauma-informed approach to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The new name symbolizes the program’s evolution toward addressing the root causes of addiction and reducing the stigma associated with opioid treatment.
The Center for Healing continues to offer life-saving care through a harm-reduction framework, which means meeting people where they are on their journey to recovery. For many, navigating the complexities of treatment systems can be a major barrier, especially when facing both addiction and the Hepatitis C virus, a condition disproportionately affecting those with SUD.
In 2023, the Center was awarded a $1 million grant from the New York State Department of Health to expand Hepatitis C treatment. By integrating this care directly into our clinic, rather than referring patients to external facilities, we significantly increase the chances of individuals completing the treatment regimen, offering them a real opportunity for recovery from Hepatitis C.
With this new funding, the Center for Healing is on its way to becoming a model of excellence in addiction treatment, addressing mental health, social determinants of health, and overall quality of life. This support allows us to further refine our patient-centered approach, enhancing harm reduction strategies and transforming lives through compassionate, comprehensive care.
“It’s really about medication management and harm reduction. Many of our patients tend to be very private people and some self-isolate unconsciously, so this program allows them to receive support and treatment in a familiar setting.”
As a home health aide, Elisabeth helps patients with finding health care providers and with becoming more self-sufficient. As a certified peer recovery counselor who has lived experience with substance use disorder, she shares her recovery experiences and gets to know them personally in order to build trust.
“Focusing on my health and starting to follow through with taking care of myself was a huge part of my own recovery. I really try to get the patients to understand and that their life will be better if they visit their primary care physician and go for regular checkup. I tell them you’re worth taking care of, and I know it can be difficult to accept, but it’s really the truth.” – Elisabeth Diekmann
As we continue to bring more people under the Greenwich House tent, the Lifelong Skills and Opportunity Center (LSOC) is seeing a shift in the needs and populations seeking our services post-COVID. With more older adults accessing our programs now more than ever before, many are arriving with increased needs, and while a growing number of participants are seeking a broader range of enrichment offerings.
Through targeted programs aimed at increasing workforce access and digital literacy, the Greenwich House Lifelong Skills and Opportunity Center (LSOC) supported 235 members with 310 services specifically tailored to underserved communities.
A $30,000 Spectrum Digital Education grant enabled the expansion of digital literacy courses, including door-to-door transportation for mobility-challenged participants. LSOC also joined the West Side Work Coalition (WSWC), a workforce initiative aimed at increasing employment opportunities for West Side residents in collaboration with local leaders and community organizations. With support from a $20,000 KeyBank Foundation grant, LSOC launched an OSHA certification program for residents of the NYCHA Elliott-Chelsea and NYCHA Fulton Houses, providing pathways to apprenticeships and job placement.
In partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), LSOC began offering free English language classes to immigrants and recently arrived asylum seekers, empowering them to build essential language skills and navigate their path toward citizenship.
By breaking language barriers and providing access to career development and a repertoire of wrap-around support services, LSOC continues to create new opportunities for marginalized communities to achieve economic self-sufficiency and professional growth.
Gregg Powell, a 73-year-old retiree, photographer, and multimedia artist, visits the computer lab daily to edit his photos and acquire new computer skills to enhance his entrepreneurial pursuits.
“My long-range objective is to establish a website to sell my work online,” said Powell, who is a full-time artist, having retired from his careers in carpentry and computer programming, respectively, after 25 years. He lives on the Upper West Side and travels to Greenwich House daily to edit his photos and learn new skills.
“I am also improving my word processing skills through a class here. I use Excel to create numerous tables and graphs to chart the events in my life.”
The Greenwich House Older Adult Network continued to expand its services in 2023, ensuring that this population has seamless access to essential resources, meals, and community engagement. With 59,920 meals served, more than 13,346 health and physical activity participants, and 2,300 education and recreation classes, the network remains a vital lifeline for older New Yorkers.
One of the most exciting developments this year was the launch of a free Transportation Shuttle Service, providing daily rides between Older Adult Centers, the Lifelong Skills & Opportunity Center, and West Village Houses. This service removed over 5,000 barriers—such as buses, subways, and walking difficulties—for older adults who have mobility challenges, ensuring they can stay connected to essential programs.
In addition, Greenwich House offered enriching activities like the Alvin Ailey dance class through the Su Casa program, and celebrated talented members who placed in, or won city-wide talent and art shows.
Thanks to the generous support of City Council Member Erik Bottcher, the shuttle service made it easier for older adults to access lunch, case assistance, mental health services, and classes, removing mobility barriers and enhancing their ability to participate in community life.
by Roberta Curly, member at the Westbeth Older Adult Center
Roberta Curly, a retired administrator for the NYPD, became a member of the Westbeth Older Adult Center shortly after its inception and has since discovered a welcome and vibrant community among her fellow peers. Curly derives immense pleasure from participating in weekly poetry classes and engaging in enriching excursions to art museums and Broadway plays. In fact, she accepted a job as a poetry instructor at the Center. She even composed a heartfelt poem titled “Celebrating Center Core” to express her profound gratitude for the invaluable services and unwavering support she receives from Westbeth.
“Celebrating Center Core”
I feel cared for
I feel lucky
I am categorized as “old”
I live alone
I’m childless
I have a really old boyfriend
Our relationship is vicissitude-filled
He’s fun — a low-key riot
Often I need space
But I’m not solitary
My brothers hover, occasionally
I have culinary assistance—
Fresh Direct appears at my door
I choose my daily activities
Westbeth Older Adult Center opened
Two blocks away
They serve balanced, hearty lunches
Sometimes better than Fresh Direct
More nourishing than food though- –
Is camaraderie – never lacking here
Perks magically appear in this center
Museum trips, shopping jaunts
A drawing for free “Wicked” tix
Jubilant vibes from dedicated Directors
A laudable, multigenerational staff
All empathic, easy to know
like our social worker —
Classes, movies with fresh popcorn
What likely keeps me returning?
Mostly retirees, like myself
Or those still on the job
Hanging out, opening up, sharing
Somewhat like a dating service…
But with heart
Greenwich House Music School (GHMS) continues to serve as a dynamic center for creativity and community, offering a wide range of performances, educational programs, and outreach initiatives. Through its commitment to fostering artistic growth, GHMS helps connect people of all ages to the transformative power of music and the arts.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Uncharted Concert Series returned to GHMS, featuring six performances by women alumni artists. Uncharted continues to provide invaluable resources for New York City-based musicians, offering free rehearsal space, paid residencies, technical support, and a platform to develop and premiere original works. Thanks to a multi-year grant from the Baisley Powell Elebash Fund, Uncharted artists receive comprehensive support, helping them navigate New York’s creative economy.
GHMS also partnered with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media + Entertainment for New York Music Month, to provide free rehearsal space to musicians citywide. By offering this resource, GHMS opened doors for hundreds of musicians to develop their craft in a professional setting.
For the second consecutive year, the Music School’s outreach program at Grand Street Settlement, along with Mozart for Munchkins, reached 400 Lower East Side and Brooklyn children, fostering a love of classical music, from an early age.
Since 1905, GHMS has been a pillar of arts education in New York, continuing to inspire students of all ages through music, dance, theater, and visual arts. With innovative programs and community partnerships, GHMS is building new doors to artistic expression and opportunity for all New Yorkers.
In 2023, Greenwich House Pottery continued its mission to support working artists and advance the art of ceramics through a dynamic series of exhibitions, artist residencies, and special events. The Jane Hartsook Gallery showcased solo exhibitions from prominent ceramic artists, including Jono Pandolfi and Maura Wright, both making their solo debuts in New York City. The gallery also hosted Paul Narkiewicz’s solo exhibition, A Figure Enters, curated by Megan Mi-Ai Lee, offering a retrospective of his decade-long exploration of abstract human figures in clay. These exhibitions pushed the boundaries of ceramic art, exploring new techniques, scale, and conceptual approaches that captivated audiences.
The gallery also presented the 2023 Ceramics Now program, highlighting the innovative work of four artists-in-residence: Beth Campbell, Cathy Lu, Alva Mooses, and Shellyne Rodriguez. These artists experimented with new forms and materials, generating groundbreaking works that challenge traditional ideas of ceramics. Their work culminated in a year-end exhibition that reflected their artistic growth and the diversity of ideas in contemporary ceramics.
Additionally, the HB381 Gallery Exhibition and Sale provided a platform for renowned artists like Toshiko Takaezu, Kathy Butterly, and Roberto Lugo to showcase and sell their work in support of Greenwich House Pottery’s Shape the Future campaign. Proceeds from the event are dedicated to the renovation and expansion of the Pottery’s historic facility, ensuring that it remains a vital resource for the ceramics community for generations to come.
Through exhibitions, events, and artist support, Greenwich House Pottery continues to open new doors for artists, fostering a creative environment where both emerging and established talents can thrive.
In early 2023, Greenwich House made the difficult decision to suspend its afterschool and summer camp programming at the Youth Community Center to reassess the youth development needs of the neighborhood.
Beginning in June 2023, a comprehensive review and reimagining process was launched to study the current needs of the community and explore new ways of delivering youth services.
With over 100 years of experience supporting local families, Greenwich House looks forward to reshaping its youth services to meet the ever-changing needs of the community and ensuring that the next generation continues to thrive.
Support Services: Bridging Gaps to Critical Care and Resources
Before someone can focus on improving their mental health, attend a class, or secure a job, their basic needs—like knowing where they will sleep or how to get their next meal—must be met. That’s where Greenwich House’s Support Services comes in. Our team of dedicated professionals – case managers, certified peer recovery advocates, and home health aides, many with lived experience – connect patients and members with essential services and benefits, accompany them to appointments, and provide support during crises. They serve as trusted resources, on the front lines of care, offering counsel to patients during some of their most vulnerable moments, so they can prioritize their well-being.
In 2023, Greenwich House formed a new department to integrate support services across its programs, with case managers, certified peer recovery advocates, and home health aides who work together to build trust and connect people with the resources they need to thrive.
Trained in trauma-informed mental health, these professionals provide comprehensive care across our behavioral health and older adult programs such as the Center for Resiliency and Wellness, Center for Healing, Lifelong Skills and Opportunity Center, Older Adult Center Network, and Older Adult Mental Health Clinics at NYC Aging Older Adult Centers. Their role extends beyond providing services—they bring people into treatment, keep them engaged even when life circumstances become overwhelming, and support them as they navigate various challenges.
Greenwich House’s diverse team helps clients access everything from medical appointments and housing assistance to vocational training, medication management and more. These services address the social determinants of health, laying the foundation for long-term success and positive outcomes.
In 2022, Barrow Street Nursery School stayed true to its mission of igniting a lifelong passion for learning, the arts, and nurturing community and environment.
An incredible partnership with PS3 was continued, welcoming 30 fresh faces to the community.
In total, BSNS teachers delivered enriching learning experiences to a total of 229 students throughout the year, while families actively participated through meaningful dialogue and support.
| Operating Revenue and Support | |||
| Contributions and special events | $ | 3,724,742 | |
| Government grants | $ | 7,376,818 | |
| Tuition and fees | $ | 8,600,039 | |
| Medicaid and other insurance | $ | 6,619,266 | |
| Rental income | $ | 439,823 | |
| Investment returns | $ | 119,788 | |
| Other income | $ | 652,594 | |
| Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program | n/a | ||
| Total Revenue | $ | 27,533,070 | |
| Expenses | |||
| Program services | $ | 20,423,818 | |
| Management and administrative | $ | 4,840,807 | |
| Fundraising | $ | 852,674 | |
| Total Expenses | $ | 26,117,299 | |
| Assets | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3,087,359 | |
| Investments | $ | 8,718,087 | |
| Accounts receivable | $ | 4,997,492 | |
| Contributions receivable | $ | 814,939 | |
| Prepaid expenses | $ | 528,610 | |
| Beneficial interest in remainder trust | $ | 246,047 | |
| Property and equipment, net | 4,431,061 | ||
| Total Assets | $ | 24,150,829 | |
| Liabilities | |||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ | 1,800,477 | |
| Accrued salaries and related liabilities |
$ | 664,857 | |
| Deferred tuition | $ | 5,054,348 | |
| Line of credit | $ | 2,000,050 | |
| Loan Payable | $ | 600,000 | |
| Total Liabilities | $ | 11,457,604 | |
| Net Assets | |||
| Unrestricted assets | $ | 6,757,473 | |
| Temporarily restricted assets | $ | 4,224,491 | |
| Permanently restricted assets | $ | 1,711,261 | |
| Total Net Assets | $ | 12,693,225 | |
| Total Liabilities and Net Assets | $ | 24,150,829 |