HeartShare receives green grant

It’s not easy being green.

In fact, it can be downright expensive, which is exactly why localcharity HeartShare Human Services celebrated the awarding of a$20,000 Green Cinderella grant from energy provider National Gridwith an event at the children’s residential program in Bensonhurston August 12.

The grant will go towards renovations to improve energy-efficiencyat two new residential programs in Bensonhurst for people age sixto 21 living with an autism spectrum disorder and attending theHeartShare School next door. Although the organization has over 60programs, this is their first foray into this type of facility.Both residential programs will be housed in one building – a formerconvent built in 1964.

That autistic facility is the first of its kind in the borough,said HeartShare president and CEO William Guarinello.

Although the not-for-profit organization made almost $400,000 ingreen improvements to the building — including insulating exteriordoors with weather stripping, spray foam wall and ceilinginsulation, and a new energy-efficient gas boiler — he said thegrant will go a long way at an organization where no dollar iswasted.

Ninety cents on the dollar gets spent on programs, Guarinellosaid. It’s a very efficient organization.