About
Surmount New York is a fully volunteer-run 501(c)(3) founded in January 2024 by Elijah Washington — a Westchester-raised youth-development practitioner who is also Training and Resource Associate at Nonprofit Westchester, the regional sector umbrella. He was himself a Riverside High School volunteer before he started working inside the network he now plugs Surmount into.
The organisation bridges low-income NYC-area residents with vetted public resources: housing, food, healthcare, youth services. Its mission line is 'Empowering New Yorkers to Overcome Challenges and Uplift Their Communities.' Its strapline: 'Fighting Poverty, Creating Prosperity.'
The two standing programs are the Annual PB&J Drive and, new in early 2026, the Resource Fellows Program. The 2024 PB&J Drive made 185 meals for families in Harlem, the Bronx, and Yonkers, with 132 young volunteers aged 14-25, of whom 6 student leaders were trained to run drives at their own schools. PB&J was chosen because peanut butter and jelly are shelf-stable, protein-rich, and among the most-requested pantry items for families with kids.
Roughly twelve volunteer team members. 98 Instagram followers. 108 LinkedIn followers. Elijah is the director, a board member, and the unpaid organiser all at once.
Highlights
- Founded
- January 2024 · 501(c)(3) · EIN 33-3925148
- 2024 PB&J Drive
- 185 meals · 132 youth · 6 student leaders trained
- New in 2026
- Resource Fellows Program · age 16+
- Team
- ~12 volunteers · 7 open roles on Idealist
- Reach
- 98 IG · 108 LinkedIn
Deeper Dive
The Resource Fellows Program is the structural move. Where the PB&J Drive embedded a youth-leadership pipeline inside a one-day event, the fellowship formalises it: hands-on professional experience for 16+ high-school students, leadership-skill building, community-centered work. The application deadline was extended to 13 March 2026; the Program Manager role is a Yonkers-based volunteer post.
Behind both programs is the resource-navigation work — vetting public-sector services and cross-publishing them. Recent examples include reposts of the NYC Department of Social Services' Food Help NYC app and a feature on ECHO Clinic, which provides free health screenings for uninsured adults in the Bronx.
The team page lists Iyleen Torres as Programs Director, Fatima Abu Khaled as Chief of Staff, Lily Bufalino on Development, Joseph Dolan on Volunteer Operations, and Alyssa Valentin and Kiara Wilson as Board Chair and Vice Chair. Idealist currently shows seven open volunteer roles.