named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Heart of Pelham (HOP) Awards
Annual awards recognizing youth and junior youth leaders for community impact and service.
Junior Council
Middle school leadership group that meets monthly to support peer wellbeing and organize local service initiatives.
PT Counseling
Provides low-to-no-cost, short-term mental health counseling for youth aged 5–21 through supervised graduate social work interns; services offered on a sliding scale with no insurance accepted.
Parent Talks / Community Workshops
Virtual and in-person educational events for parents and caregivers on youth mental health, executive functioning, video game addiction, social media, and substance use prevention.
Pelham Overnight for Mental Health
Annual overnight community event combining music, reflection, and awareness-building around youth mental health, drawing hundreds of participants.
Pelham Youth Council
Youth leadership program for high school students that organizes civic projects, advocacy campaigns, and community events; includes travel to Albany and Washington, D.C. for policy engagement.
Pelicones
Youth-run vintage ice cream truck enterprise that provides entrepreneurial experience while continuing a local community tradition.
Summer Internship Program
Paid internship program placing high school students in local organizations across sectors including nonprofits, education, architecture, and food service for leadership and career development.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 3 activities
- Town Hall meetings for teen issuesHosts biannual Town Hall meetings to discuss issues facing teens in Pelham, fostering dialogue between youth, families, and community leaders.
- Youth civic engagement and advocacy trainingFacilitates youth participation in civic advocacy at local, state, and national levels, including organizing attendance at the CADCA National Leadership Forum and Mental Health Matters Day in Albany.
- Youth leadership and civic engagement initiativesSupports youth leadership through the Youth Council and Junior Council, monthly meetings, and programs that create peer support spaces to reduce substance use and promote civic engagement.
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Mental Health Education and Awareness 2 activities
- Pelham Overnight mental health awareness eventHosts an annual overnight event focused on mental health for high school students, drawing approximately 300 community members and featuring youth-led education and resource distribution.
- Public education events on youth issuesHosts film screenings, expert speaker events, and Q&A panels to inform parents and families about youth trends, risks, and mental health topics.
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Program Evaluation and Impact Research 1 activity
- Annual student health surveyConducts an annual survey of student health and well-being to inform community programming and support initiatives for youth in Pelham.
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Youth Development and Support Services 1 activity
- Community resource platforms for youthOperates a Youth Job Board and Youth Business Bulletin Board to connect teens with employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, and maintains a vetted website linking families to local mental health and youth resources.
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Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
- Parent and caregiver education workshopsHosts virtual and in-person workshops for parents and caregivers on topics including executive functioning skills, substance misuse prevention, video game habits, and healthy parenting approaches.
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Substance Use Policy Advocacy & Public Education 1 activity
- Policy advocacy for youth mental health and substance use preventionEngages in advocacy with state and federal officials to support funding for mental health first aid training in schools and the Drug Free Communities program, including meetings with elected officials and testimony at state capitol events.
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Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
- Youth internship and entrepreneurship programsRuns a paid summer internship program for high school students and offers entrepreneurial training through workshops and youth-run ventures such as the Pelicones vintage ice cream truck, providing real-world work experience and business development skills.
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School-Based Mental Health and Family Support 1 activity
- Youth mental health counseling and support servicesProvides low-to-no-cost, short-term counseling to youth aged 5–21 in Pelham and supports emotional wellness through programs like Project Happiness for children in grades K–4.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Youth recognition programsAdministers the annual Heart of Pelham (HOP) and HOP Jr. Awards to recognize middle and high school students who demonstrate compassion, leadership, and integrity.
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School and School-Community Events 1 activity
- Youth-led community events and social programmingOrganizes and hosts community events such as WinterFest, Open Skate Nights, art installations, and sports tournaments to foster connection among youth and families in Pelham. Events include live music, food, and youth-led activities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$515K
Contributions & grants$421K82%
Program service revenue$78K15%
Investment income$7K1%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$388K
Program expenses63%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising18%
Salaries & benefits$296K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$393K
Cash$369K
Investments$0
Liabilities$28K
Net assets$365K
Liquid reserves11.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +54.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Caruso | Executive Dir. | 40 | $101K |
board members · 10
- Joanie Paradis — Director
- Leah Tahbaz — President
- Linda Woodward — Director
- Liza Benner — Director
- Marcos Rollan — Director
- Nandini Anandu — Secretary
- Pavithra Mandappa — Director
- Pilar Bartlett — Director
- Sara Haberman — Director
- Steve Salee — Treasurer
relationships · 39
Who they work with
- Assemblymember Amy Paulin Government — Met with Pelham Together Youth Council to discuss mental health legislation.
- Assemblymember Anna Kelles Government — Sponsor of legislation to extend mental health first aid training to school teachers and staff, supported by Pelham Together Youth Council.
- Chuck Schumer Government — Youth Council delivered remarks in coordination with Senator Schumer’s office regarding substance use prevention.
- Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America Network — Member organization participating in the CADCA National Leadership Forum and supported by CADCA through training and advocacy resources.
- Counseling Connect Partner — Provides the Wellness Wheel activity at the Pelham Overnight event to promote mental health awareness.
- Facebook Partner — Shares organizational updates and community information through its Facebook page @pelhamtogether
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook as a platform to share updates and engage with the community.
- Faith-based organizations in Pelham Partner — Includes faith-based organizations as members of its community coalition supporting youth.
- George Latimer Government — Met with Pelham Together’s Youth Council to discuss support for the Drug Free Communities program.
- Girl Scouts Partner — Volunteered to make and serve hot chocolate at WinterFest.
- Healthcare professionals in Pelham Partner — Works with local healthcare professionals to support youth health and wellness initiatives.
- Huguenot Memorial Church Partner — Provides office space for Pelham Together Counseling services.
- Instagram Partner — Shares organizational updates and community information through its Instagram account @pelhamtogetherfamilies
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram as a platform to share updates and engage with families.
- Kirsten Gillibrand Government — Youth Council delivered remarks in coordination with Senator Gillibrand’s office regarding substance use prevention.
- Law enforcement in Pelham Partner — Engages local law enforcement as a partner in a multisector coalition supporting youth.
- Local government of Pelham Partner — Partners with local government as part of a community coalition to support youth well-being.
- Mamaroneck High School OCRA Program Partner — Collaborating on youth mental health first aid training and advocacy.
- Mental Health Association of New York State Partner — Collaborated with MHANYS to participate in Mental Health Matters Day in Albany.
- Mental Health Association of New York State Partner — Hosted Mental Health Matters Day, which the Pelham Together Youth Council attended for advocacy.
- Mental Health Association of New York State Partner — Youth Council participated in Mental Health Matters Day hosted by MHANYS.
- New York Community Trust Funder — Provided funding support that enabled expansion of Pelham Together's Youth Council.
- New York State United Teachers Partner — Exploring outreach to understand educator perspectives on mental health first aid training.
- PT Board Members Partner — Volunteered for event setup and cleanup at WinterFest.
- Pelham High School Partner — Collaborates with Pelham Together to co-host the Pelham Overnight mental health awareness event.
- Pelham Manor Police Department Partner — Collaborating on a campaign for National Drug Take Back Day.
- Pelham Memorial High School Partner — Partnering on the Seal of Civic Readiness program and Civic Action Celebration.
- Pelham Middle School Partner — Partners with Pelham Together to co-host the Pelham Overnight event and contributes the tradition of using goats for stress relief.
- Pelham Pizza Partner — Provides food for attendees at the Pelham Overnight event.
- Pelham Public Schools Partner — Collaborates on youth programs including the Junior Council, which meets at the middle school and requires attendance at PMS for participation.
+ 9 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Coalition Model for Youth Well-Beingmethodology: multisector_community_coalitionBy uniting multisector stakeholders—including schools, government, faith groups, and nonprofits—collective impact in youth development is enhanced because coordinated action across systems increases resource alignment and community ownership.
- Mental Health First Aid and Peer Support Integrationmethodology: mental_health_first_aidBy training youth and adults in Mental Health First Aid and incorporating animal-assisted emotional support, the organization reduces stigma and increases early intervention because skills-based preparedness and non-clinical de-stressing methods make mental health support more accessible and normalized.
- Parent and Family Engagement through Peer Liaisonsmethodology: peer_parent_liaisonBy embedding peer-parent liaisons in schools and educating parents on executive functioning, family support for youth development improves because trusted, relatable messengers increase engagement and practical application of developmental strategies at home.
- Youth Social Enterprise with Mentorshipmethodology: youth_social_enterpriseBy engaging youth in operating social enterprises like an ice cream truck business supported by professional mentors, real-world entrepreneurial skills are developed because experiential learning combined with expert guidance builds competence, confidence, and economic literacy.
- Youth-Led Advocacy and Civic Engagementmethodology: youth_led_advocacyBy empowering youth to lead advocacy and civic initiatives, the organization produces greater community engagement and policy change because peer leadership fosters trust, ownership, and sustained impact among young people.