Maintaining Capacity, Strengthening Community, and Building Sustainability

IHDFNJ's mission is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to pursue higher education, fulfill their potential, and achieve their dreams. Since our founding in 2006, we have worked toward that mission by providing individualized, wraparound support to our youth and their families. By partnering with each child's family as well as their school community we extend our reach beyond the classroom. We are continuing to build capacity, community, and sustainability into all that we do.

• We are building capacity by providing additional team members to support the day school, afterschool programming, and Saturday STEAM Academy at the Thirteenth Avenue School. We are providing professional development opportunities to faculty and supporting the school's social worker in addressing student's mental health and wellness needs.

• We are building community by being present at every opportunity, connecting with our youth and their families inside and outside the classroom, and by supporting the team at Thirteenth Avenue in the ways that they most need.

• We are building sustainability by identifying the most pressing needs that our population has and implementing creative solutions to provide relief. We are continuing our food insecurity work, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work now includes the food and essential item pantry at the Thirteenth Avenue School, as well as the courtyard garden. We know that a healthy mind cannot exist without a healthy body and it is critical to students' academic and social-emotional success that their nutritional needs are met.

When you support IHDFNJ you'll take part in bringing these goals, and more, to fruition.

Increase the impact of your gift; visit DoubleTheDonation.com to learn if your employer offers a matching gift program!

For questions, or for more ways to give, please contact Executive Director Dr. Mari Grimes mgrimes@ihdfnj.org