Spotlight on 25 Years of Grantmaking Casey Russo

What was the first site visit you went on?

On my second day at SNF, Alex (my colleague in the New York office) invited me to join him on a site visit to a Win shelter in East New York. Win is one of the largest providers of family shelter and supportive housing in New York City. Through this experience, I began learning about our partners’ incredible work. I was moved by the shelter’s commitment to the families residing there, and the determination to lift up those who were struggling. Having the opportunity to see this work first-hand underscored the reasons why I joined SNF, and made me even more hopeful about the potential to make a positive mark on our community moving forward.

What was the first grant you followed?

The first grant that I followed for SNF was our three-year partnership with THE CITY, a local news outlet that covers stories across all five boroughs of New York City. THE CITY’s work continues to inspire me, especially because of its commitment to local neighborhoods. THE CITY, unlike many other news outlets, ensures that the issues facing marginalized communities are heard. This work has taken on even more importance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as THE CITY has become a resource for local pandemic-related information, and has also paid tribute to the individual lives lost.

What is your favorite part of working at SNF?

My favorite part of working at SNF is the opportunity to work with and learn from our incredible grantees. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with such dedicated, mission-driven professionals who live everyday by their commitment to make the world a better place. It is a tremendous gift to be able to learn from others within our community, and to feel that SNF is able to play a role in the work of our partners.

Casey Russo, SNF Program Officer
I have worked at SNF for two years.
I grew up in a suburb outside of New York City, and I currently live in NYC.
Former SNF intern in 2011 and 2012
Other fun fact: I have run two half marathons