Founded in 1974 to fill the need for vital social services in The Bronx, VIP plays a key role in sustaining life in the community.

Inspired and led by Father Robert Banome, residents and community leaders in the East Tremont/Crotona section of the Bronx joined together to grapple with the neighborhood's most pressing problems: poverty, safety, family disintegration, drug abuse, unemployment, and housing abandonment. Vocational Instruction Project Community Services (VIP), became a safe place where individuals could get help with their addiction, learn a vocation or trade, and get back on their feet.

Now we operate a fully integrated continuum of care, including a primary care clinic and specialty care, oral health care, behavioral health services, supportive housing, shelter, and vocational services.

There is also a need for access to healthy food in the population served by VIP. For this reason, we have chosen the food insecurity of our residents as a target for giving in 2022.