THE SAFE FOUNDATION IS ENTERING AN IMPORTANT NEW CHAPTER IN ITS GROWTH, WITH NEW YORK STATE SENATOR SAM SUTTON PRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION WITH A $500,000 STATE GRANT TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF ITS BROOKLYN FACILITY. THE GRANT WILL HELP SAFE CONTINUE BUILDING THE SPACE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO EXPAND ITS CLINICAL SERVICES AND REACH MORE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY ADDICTION.
The check was presented to SAFE President James Haddad and Founder and CEO Ike Dweck, whose work has helped guide SAFE from its beginnings in 2003 into a multidimensional organization providing treatment, prevention, education, and support to thousands of people. Today, SAFE operates licensed outpatient treatment programs and continues to evolve its services in response to the changing needs of the community.
The partnership between Senator Sutton and SAFE is deeply rooted in the South Brooklyn community. Long before entering public office, Sutton spent decades building and supporting community institutions, including more than 30 years with Sephardic Bikur Holim, where he served as president for five years. As President, Sam helped create a drug prevention division at SBH, which would later go on to become SAFE.
During that time, Sutton recognized Ike Dweck as someone who could help lead an organization dedicated to addressing addiction and brought him into the work. Sutton appointed Dweck to lead SAFE in 2003, going on to build an organization that has continued to grow while remaining focused on compassionate service to individuals and families struggling with addiction.
Over the years, SAFE has grown and evolved alongside the community. As new challenges have emerged, including problem gambling, substance misuse, vaping, fentanyl, and the changing pressures facing young people and families, the organization has continued to develop new ways to provide treatment, prevention, education, and support.
That growth now requires SAFE to expand its physical space as well. The organization is in the process of bringing together its facilities at 255 Avenue W and 251 Avenue W into a unified facility of nearly 10,000 square feet. The expansion will allow SAFE to increase its clinical and administrative capacity and create additional room for the services it provides to the community. This grant secured by Senator Sutton will help allow for this major vision to become reality.
“SAFE has always been about being there for people when they need help most,” said Senator Sam Sutton. “This investment will help ensure that SAFE can continue expanding its ability to serve individuals and families throughout our community and beyond.” For SAFE, the $500,000 grant represents another chapter in a relationship that has continued across decades and through multiple stages of the organization’s development. “Senator Sutton has been part of SAFE’s story from the very beginning,” said James Haddad, President of the SAFE Foundation. “As President of the Sephardic Community Federation, he helped SAFE build its first building with more than $1 million in funding. He also previously helped secure $600,000 toward our second building, and now this additional $500,000 on top of that will help us take the next step in expanding our services.”
As SAFE enters this new phase, the organization remains grateful for the community support that has helped make its growth possible. The expansion is not simply about creating more space. It is about ensuring that SAFE can continue to evolve, meet emerging needs, and remain a place where individuals and families can find treatment, support, and hope.
