Founded in 1995, The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) is dedicated to preserving the beauty and biodiversity of the earth and providing programs so that children may know the wonder and joy of nature. In working to achieve this mission, TWC has established the largest nonprofit nature preserve system in California, comprised of 22 preserves encompassing 178,000 acres of diverse mountain, valley, desert, river, and coastal landscapes. These preserves are open to the public free of charge for passive recreation, including camping, hiking, picnicking, birding, and more. In late 2021, The Wildlands Conservancy took the bold step to expand its model of stewardship and free public access into additional western states with the acquisition of the 30,000-acre Cherry Creek Ranch, now Enchanted Rocks Preserve. Ultimately, saving our treasured landscapes from development means educating and instilling a love for nature in future generations. For this reason, TWC is also the state’s nonprofit leader in providing free outdoor education opportunities for California youth. Through these programs and our reverent stewardship of preserves—visited by more than 1.5 million people per year—we foster a love and respect for life in all of its magnificent forms.

For over 66 years, The Salah M. Hassanein Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ) has been an anchor in the Astoria/Long Island City community, offering children a safe haven to learn, play, and grow into tomorrow's leaders. Since opening its doors, VBGCQ has upheld a strong tradition of community leadership to make a difference in the lives of young people. Created in 1955, the Club was established by a concerned group of citizens in Astoria and Long Island City who banded together in response to rising gang violence in their neighborhood. The founding committee included George Skouras, Salah M. Hassanein, Judge Charles Vallone, and Ann Buehler, who partnered with community leaders to foster a safe and supportive alternative to the streets. While the Club has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of our community, its central purpose remains the same. The Club continues to uphold our founding mission: to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Club’s 30,000 square foot facility is open to the community 7-days a week and includes an indoor swimming pool, makerspace lab, computer room, teaching kitchen, gym, auditorium, art studio, dance studio, film studio, and outdoor playground. We specialize in providing children of all ages with the highest quality programming and pride ourselves in being the largest youth development organization in Western Queens, serving over 4,000 young people each year. Each and everyday, we manifest our mission through the Club's core program areas: Academic Enhancement, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Healthy Living and the Arts. Our comprehensive range of programs are offered to all children (ages 6-18) including homework help, swimming and sports, coding, engineering, gourmet cooking, drama, dance, media production and so much more.