Brooklyn Borough Prez reveals first six recipients of Community Baby Shower Fund

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso recently announced that the first six organizations would receive funding from his Brooklyn Community Baby Shower Fund. 

Launched in August 2024, Borough President Reynoso set aside $50,000 in discretionary funding to create the Fund and support community-led baby showers for Brooklyn’s new and expecting parents.

Nonprofits from around the borough applied to receive the funding – up to $5,000 in matching funds – for community baby showers occurring before May 2025 and serving neighborhoods with historically high maternal mortality and morbidity rates.

The six awardees to receive this funding are: Brooklyn Public Library Macon Branch, serving Bed-Stuy; Expecting Relief, serving Bushwick; Hope Empowerment and Development Zone (HEADZ), serving East New York; Moms for Moms, serving Sunset Park; NIA Community Services Network, serving Coney Island, and Rewrite Corp. serving Brownsville.

“Brooklyn is at its best when we support one another, especially during transformative and often challenging milestones like pregnancy and parenthood. Community baby showers provide a space where neighbors can share the joys and anxieties of welcoming a new life into the world, access resources, and create a network of support for new and expecting parents,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

“Each organization receiving funding has demonstrated an incredible commitment to the communities they serve and to the spirit of neighborly love that makes Brooklyn so special. I look forward to seeing their community baby showers come to life,” he added.

Over the past two decades, Black women in New York City were, on average, six times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. Since beginning his administration in January 2021, Borough President Reynoso has pursued a historic maternal health agenda to address this staggering disparity.

In his first year in office, he allocated the entirety of his capital funding – a total of $45 million – to Brooklyn’s three public hospitals for maternal health improvements. This marked the first time a Borough President had ever allocated an entire fiscal year’s capital funding to one cause and within one city organization. The Community Baby Shower Fund is one of Reynoso’s latest initiatives and remains open for applications.

“The Community Baby Shower provides vital necessities to new and expectant parents like bibs and diapers, along with essential information and educational resources,” said Librarian Nicole Bryan, Brooklyn Public Library’s Macon Branch manager.

“We extend our sincere thanks to Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for his generous support of the program, which will allow us to create a space and community where parents feel supported and empowered every day of the year,” she said.

“We are truly thankful to be one of the recipients of the Baby Shower Funding provided by BP Antonio Reynoso. For the past two years, we have hosted many shower replicating workshops in order to provide the necessary tools for families facing financial hardship to thrive. Other than providing a safe space and baby essentials to get their journey started, including baby gear, we educate our families to advocate for their rights in efforts to improve maternal and infant health. As a grant recipient, we could maximize our outreach, placing us in a position to be a part of the solution versus the problem,” said Vanessa Bracetty, founder and executive director of Expecting Relief.

“Hope Empowerment and Development Zone (HEADZ) is thrilled to partner with the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office and Hope City Church to host a series of family-centered Community Baby Showers during the 2025 calendar year. Each shower will honor, celebrate, and pamper 20 expecting mothers, who will each leave the event with a hospital bag containing everything needed for mom and baby’s hospital stay (and so much more). We are excited to shower our families with love as we kick off the first celebration just in time for Mother’s Day!” said Dr. Tyrone Stevenson, CEO of HEADZ.

“We are deeply grateful to Borough President Reynoso’s office for supporting Moms for Moms through the Community Baby Shower Fund. This funding will allow us to provide essential Newborn Baby Bundles and Postpartum Recovery Kits to new and expecting parents in Brooklyn, helping them navigate the early days of parenthood with dignity and care. We plan to host our Community Baby Shower around Mother’s Day, creating a meaningful opportunity to strengthen our commitment to building a more supportive community for Brooklyn families. Thank you, Borough President Reynoso!” said Danielle Krupa, founder and executive director of Moms for Moms.

“Free community baby showers are about more than just giving baby items – they create an opportunity for moms to connect with one another, grow their personal support networks, and feel truly supported during such an important time in their lives. For many, this event provides essential resources and the joy of a baby shower experience they may not otherwise have. It’s a way to foster a sense of community and care that every parent deserves,” said Isabel Paz, NIA Manager of Family Services.

“Rewrite Corporation is committed to empowering underserved families in Brooklyn by providing essential resources and support. Funding for our Community Baby Showers enables us to celebrate and uplift new and expecting parents, ensuring they receive critical items like baby gear, hygiene products, and educational resources. We are especially grateful for the support of The Brooklyn Borough President, whose contribution helps make this impactful event possible and strengthens our efforts to foster a nurturing environment for families to thrive,” said Brenda Carter, founder of Rewrite Corporation.

Borough President Reynoso offers a guide on how to host a community baby shower, including ideas for activities, step-by-step planning suggestions, best practices, and helpful templates. You can find the Borough President’s Community Baby Shower Guide at www.brooklynbp.nyc.gov/babyshowerfund/

To apply, applicants must submit an application via the Community Baby Shower Fun request form, which is available on our website at www.brooklynbp.nyc.gov/babyshowerfund/.

Submit these three documents to  funding@brooklynbp.nyc.gov with the subject line “Community Baby Shower Fund – 501 (c) 3 letter of determination. Most recent Form 990 or financial statement, Project budget