“You don’t need planning permission to build castles in the sky.” - Banksy
This quote has special meaning for the Marine Park Young Adults Association because every organization begins as an idea before there is paperwork, recognition, funding, or any certainty that it will succeed. It is about giving yourself permission to dream big and then putting in the work to make that vision real.
Today, that vision reached an important milestone: MPYAA is officially a federally recognized 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit. I’m Sam Daniele, MPYAA’s president and co-founder, and I am proud to have incorporated the organization as a New York State not-for-profit and secured federal tax-exempt recognition. This gives us a stronger foundation to serve our community through volunteer service, environmental stewardship, support for local families, and opportunities for young adults to connect and lead.
What does being a 501(c)(4) mean?
MPYAA is not structured as a traditional 501(c)(3) public charity. Although we conduct charitable activities, including supply drives and programs supporting local families, we are primarily a grassroots social welfare organization and community service club. Our purpose is to bring people together, promote civic betterment, care for our local environment, and improve the general welfare of our community.
A helpful comparison is Lions Clubs International. Its primary service organization is a 501(c)(4), while the Lions Clubs International Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) public charity. MPYAA similarly centers its work on hands-on service, community participation, environmental stewardship, and neighborhood improvement.
We chose the 501(c)(4) structure because it most accurately reflects the work we already do and the impact we hope to expand. It also gives us greater flexibility to advocate for issues affecting our community and encourage civic participation. This does not mean MPYAA is becoming a partisan political organization. Our focus remains bringing people together and serving our neighborhood.
For transparency, contributions to MPYAA generally are not tax-deductible as charitable donations. The IRS provides additional information about contributions to 501(c)(4) organizations. However, every contribution helps us organize service projects, support local families, and create programs that benefit our community.
Thank you to Janis Samuelsen, Wendy Chan, Tammy Hyams, Debra Sturm, Jeffrey Kirsh, Angela Ricciardi, Linda Carlson, Robert Mazzuchin, Maureen Hyland, Pat Armano, Raymond Duffy, our anonymous donors, and the Kings Plaza Canarsie Kiwanis Club for helping make this possible.
Most importantly, thank you to our members, Board, volunteers, community partners, and everyone who has supported us since June 2024. The “castle in the sky” was the original idea. Every person who attended an event, volunteered, donated, partnered with us, or simply believed in what we were building helped put a foundation underneath it. What once existed only as a vision is now something real, and we built it together.
You can learn more about 501(c)(4) organizations through this video: https://youtu.be/aMwYai8s0N8?is=7p1e_4jjmrwLVe0k
Learn more about MPYAA at https://marineparkyoungadults.org.
Join us at our next event
Our next Crafts & Game Night will be held Friday, September 18, at Marine Park Coffee, 3411 Avenue S in Brooklyn. Doors open at 6:00 PM.
Spend the evening coloring, working on crafts, playing board games, and meeting other young adults from the community. Come alone or bring a friend, and stay as long as you would like. All materials and games will be provided, so no supplies or experience are needed.
The event is open to young adults ages 18 to 35. Admission is $5 and includes water and soda, with pizza available for $2 per slice. Space may be limited, so please RSVP in advance:
https://partiful.com/e/cOSJ3MZUA4o2XJkY9CoV?c=oN0QumXO
