About

Helmsley invests in approaches that improve health stability for New York City’s populations with the greatest needs. We support efforts that improve healthcare delivery and access for high-needs patients, acknowledging root causes such as homelessness, adverse childhood experiences, the impacts of health and racial inequity, and intergenerational poverty.

We work closely with partners in all five boroughs, from nonprofits, to local government agencies, to community leaders.

Rooted in a commitment to systems change, our grantmaking is geared towards finding and fixing the roadblocks standing between vulnerable people and the path to a healthier life.

Building Health Stability

Access to quality healthcare is hindered by issues like housing instability, food insecurity, and mental health conditions. We confront this challenge by supporting efforts focused on patient-centered, holistic, and more consistent care.

We support greater access to behavioral health services in underserved areas, as well as training and education to better integrate mental healthcare into social services and other care settings.

Collaborating to Improve Care Coordination

We advance models that help high-need patients find more dignified and efficient ways of receiving care. Our approach spans from planning and piloting innovative ideas, to scaling those that have shown promise, to improving the systems designed to handle care delivery.

Leaving a hospital is only one step to return to full health, especially for high-need patients. We support efforts to improve transitions in care toward long-term, continuous health and well-being.

We have created and funded two coalitions to bring stakeholders together: the New York City Food Assistance Collaborative to transform the emergency food system, and the Collaborative for Homeless Healthcare to improve access to quality care for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Both Collaboratives have supported innovative change in their areas, and have been well-positioned to quickly adapt strategies to respond to urgent needs, such as those presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increasing Access to Green Space for Health

We recognize the physical and mental health benefits of green space, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We support organizations focused on enhancing and creating more accessible green space in underserved areas across the five boroughs.

News & Insights

Pioneering a New Specialty for Homeless Healthcare


Helmsley invests in approaches that improve health stability for New York City’s populations with ...

Fund for Public Housing Receives $3.2 Million from Helmsley Charitable Trust to Launch Green Space Connections for 14,000 NYCHA Residents in Brooklyn and the Bronx

Fund for Public Housing Receives $3.2 Million from Helmsley Charitable Trust to Launch Green Space Connections for 14,000 NYCHA Residents in Brooklyn and the Bronx

New Robin Hood Report Quantifies Significant Connection Between Poverty and Poor Health Outcomes

A longitudinal study and series of reports will aim to better understand the more than...
New Robin Hood Report Quantifies Significant Connection Between Poverty and Poor Health Outcomes

Community Organizations Selected for NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Partner Engagement Project

A community investment to help ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations
Community Organizations Selected for NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Partner Engagement Project

Helmsley Grants $6.5 Million to Support the Health of New Yorkers by Expanding Access to Green Space

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust today announced more than $6.5 million...
Helmsley Grants $6.5 Million to Support the Health of New Yorkers by Expanding Access to Green Space

Wall Street Journal: New York City Tries to Link Nexus of Doctors Serving the Homeless

The Wall Street Journal recently announced the Collaborative for Homeless Healthcare, a new coalition of...
Wall Street Journal: New York City Tries to Link Nexus of Doctors Serving the Homeless

Helmsley Grants $3.9 Million to NYC Health + Hospitals to Launch Virtual Behavioral Health Platform


The Helmsley Charitable Trust announced a $3.9 million grant to NYC Health + Hospitals to launch and ...
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Published Thu May 7, 2020

Helmsley Grants $1.2 Million For COVID-19 Emergency Response in New York City to Support Food Assistance and Homeless Healthcare

NEW YORK, NY — The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust today announced $1.2 million ...

The Plentiful App: Saving Time for Food Pantries and the People They Serve


Plentiful was developed by the Helmsley-funded New York City Food Assistance Collaborative and is the ...

Going Far Together: The NYC Food Assistance Collaborative


Each year, nearly 1.4 million New Yorkers rely on emergency food assistance. The delivery of that ...
Recent Grants

Breaking Ground Housing Development Fund Corporation

Amount: $1,700,734
Term of Grant: 36 Months
Date of Award: 02.08.2023

Anthos Home Inc

Amount: $7,500,000
Term of Grant: 37 Months
Date of Award: 02.08.2023

New York City Regional / DATA2GO.NYC Revamp and Data Clinic

Social Science Research Council

Amount: $1,621,854
Term of Grant: 36 Months
Date of Award: 12.06.2022

Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai

Amount: $2,000,000
Term of Grant: 42 Months
Date of Award: 07.27.2022

Fund for Public Housing, Inc.

Amount: $3,200,000
Term of Grant: 36 Months
Date of Award: 07.14.2022

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Our Team
Dr. Gina Agiostratidou is the Program Director for the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Program as well as its New York City (NYC) program. Through Gina’s leadership, the T1D prog...
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Gina Agiostratidou

Program Director

Tracy Perrizo is the Program Officer for Helmsley’s New York City Program. In this role, she helps to identify and design program grantmaking initiatives, as well as manage existing grants and s...
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Tracy Perrizo

Program Officer

Emilie Fidock
Emilie Fidock is an Associate Program Officer for the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s New York City Program. In her role as Associate Program Officer, Emilie helps to manage the growing New York City Pr...
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Emilie Fidock

Associate Program Officer

Marci Gelb

Marci Gelb is the Administrative Assistant for the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s New York City Program and Information Technology department.



Marci has an extensive bac...
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Marci Gelb

Administrative Assistant (also Information Technology)