Unity Walk: A Fundraiser for Proyecto Faro’s Immigrant Justice Programs Sept 27 at Stony Point Center
Proyecto Faro (PF) will host its 4th Annual Unity Walk Sunday, Sept. 27 (Rain date October 17) from 12–4 p.m. at Stony Point Center, bringing Rockland residents together in solidarity with immigrant families at a moment of unprecedented urgency.
With $70 billion in new funding for the Department of Homeland Security fueling expanded immigration enforcement, families across the country are facing intensified arrests, detention, deportation, and the constant fear that a parent, spouse, or loved one may not come home.
Proyecto Faro is seeing the consequences directly in Rockland County. Families are being torn apart, and many people are living with profound uncertainty about what may happen next. PF is helping families to try to prevent possible detention or deportation, including through emergency family planning and guardianship preparation, Know Your Rights and Rapid Response trainings, legal consultations and accompaniment, and assistance filing critical immigration applications and other legal documents. For some families, this also means helping them understand their options when they are considering leaving the United States, including what is sometimes referred to as “self-deportation.”
“People are living with fear every day, and they are coming to us because they need to know how to protect their children, how to protect their families, and what they can do to preserve their options,” said Nelcy Garcia, Board Chair of Proyecto Faro. “This is not an abstract crisis. We are seeing families struggle to navigate an increasingly hostile immigration system, and we are working every day to make sure people are not facing it alone.”
The Unity Walk will raise $35,000 to support PF’s immigrant justice and community support programs, including its immigration Legal Empowerment Program, community defense work, food relief program, free store, and grassroots organizing for educational justice in East Ramapo and a safe and welcoming community for immigrants.
Proyecto Faro invites Rockland residents to walk in solidarity with immigrant families and with the generations of immigrants who have built their lives and communities in the county. The event will take place in ½-mile loops around the beautiful Stony Point Center campus and will include a collectively constructed timeline of Rockland’s immigration history, family-friendly activities, prizes, and more.
Walkers can register for $30 at go.rallyup.com/unitywalk2026 and participate individually or create a team and raise funds through their personal networks. PF is also seeking sponsors at a variety of levels, with sponsors recognized in promotional materials and on social media and invited to table at the event.
For more information or to register, visit proyectofarorockland.org, email [email protected], or call (845) 262-9586.
Rockland Community College (RCC) Hosted Ribbon Cutting for 5,000-square-foot Nursing Simulation Lab
The Nursing Simulation Lab is a state-of-the-art facility that will help address growing demand for highly skilled healthcare professionals across our region, said RCC. The lab is five times larger 
than RCC’s previous simulation area and is designed to perfectly replicate real clinical settings. The expansion allows RCC to run multiple emergency scenarios back-to-back, ensuring graduates enter the workforce with exceptional real-world experience and confidence.
New Facility Highlights:
- High-Fidelity Simulators: Features high fidelity simulators capable of reproducing complex physiological reactions, including “MamaAnne,” a maternal simulator used to train for high-risk obstetric emergencies.
- Immersive Technology: Incorporates a new virtual reality clinical training program and an interactive 3D live anatomy table.
A Taste of Rockland Celebrates 31 Years of Culinary Excellence & Community Impact
The Arc Rockland proudly announces the 31st anniversary of A Taste of Rockland, taking place on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Hilton Pearl River.
For more than three decades, A Taste of Rockland has brought together Rockland County’s leading restaurants, bakeries, and beverage artisans for a one-night-only culinary celebration.
Guests will enjoy gourmet tastings, signature cocktails, decadent desserts, and live entertainment, all while supporting The Arc Rockland’s mission to advance advocacy, empowerment, and inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
- Event Details:
- Date: Monday, September 28, 2026
- Location: Hilton Pearl River
- Time: 6:00 – 10:00 PM
- Tickets: $225
Proceeds from this special evening directly support The Arc Rockland’s programs and services, helping ensure that individuals with IDD have access to the resources, opportunities, and advocacy.
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://TheArcRockland.givesmart.com or for more information contact Rose Ulaner at [email protected]
Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan and Rockland Announce 2026 Make A Difference Grant Recipients; Over $20,000 Invested in Five Local Nonprofit Organizations
The Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan and Rockland (CFOSR) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Make A Difference Grants. This year’s grant cycle focused on supporting nonprofit infrastructure and operational needs, with preference given to organizations and projects that support women, children and seniors.
Out of 58 qualified applicants, five organizations received funding for eligible needs that directly enhance their ability to serve their community.
This year’s recipients are:
- Braeside Camp – Kitchen Floor Replacement – Serving low-income children through affordable to no cost summer camp, Braeside Camp is replacing the kitchen floor at their residential camp to support their return to residential camping and allow them to host fundraising events at their property throughout the year.
- Wonder Girls – Supporting Leadership & Wellness Programming in Rockland County Schools – Wonder Girls will be purchasing program-related supplies that enables the continued delivery of leadership, wellness, and career-readiness programming for girls across Rockland County.
- Girls on the Run Hudson Valley – Building a Community Hub for Girls and the Women Who Inspire Them –GOTR-HV is transforming their new office space into a well-equipped training and collaboration center through infrastructure improvements so that staff, volunteer coaches, board members, and community partners can learn and collaborate with one another.
- PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program – Dental Equipment and Technology Upgrades to Improve Pediatric Oral Health – In an effort to strengthen the operational capacity of their New York State Department of Health-certified mobile dental clinic, PRASAD will be purchasing essential technology to improve the efficiency, quality and reliability of dental services delivered to children throughout Sullivan County.
- Christ Church of Ramapo – Appliance Replacements 2026 – As a result of multiple appliance failures in their soup kitchen and food pantry, Christ Church of Ramapo is replacing their electric oven, refrigerator and air conditioner to continue to provide nutritional food to local individuals and families who are food insecure and in need.
“Strong organizations are the foundation of strong communities, and sometimes the greatest impact comes from supporting the behind-the-scenes needs of a nonprofit,” said Elizabeth Rowley, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan and Rockland. “By investing in infrastructure and operational needs in this year’s grant cycle, we are giving these organizations the support they need so they can continue to expand their impact and make a difference in the communities we call home.”
The Make A Difference Fund was established to provide annual grants addressing critical needs or emerging opportunities across the Hudson Valley, with the fund’s focus shifting to meet evolving community priorities each year. The 2026 grant cycle emphasized infrastructure and operational needs, which are traditionally excluded from grant funding, but are essential to helping organizations focus on the important work they do.
For more information about the Make A Difference Fund or to learn how you can support future grant cycles, visit www.cfosrny.org or call (845) 769-9393.
