This Roman Catholic community of priests, brothers and laity has its origins in 16th Century Rome. Its founder, Philip Neri (1515-1595) was renowned for joyful and creative commitment to good works in an urban setting.

Four centuries later, inspired by this remarkable visionary, the Brooklyn branch of Philip Neri’s community determined to form an organization dedicated to raising money and originating programs and activities that would affirm, improve and reform the quality of life in the City of New York, particularly in Kings County.

For the last 16 years, the Institute has received financial support from foundations, corporations and individuals who wished to assist the Institute’s mission: inner-city education, homelessness projects and the arts. The Institute has assisted in projects as diverse as historic preservation, educational scholarships and foreign travel.

Our outreach is to smaller organizations who work with the poor, particularly poor children. Often these groups live “under the radar” of large grant-giving foundations or corporations. For these “good works,” The Breukelein Institute has its special mission.