Charity Partners

Amazing Truth Society: Through a desire to honor his daughter Hope’s memory, Sensei Ray Rodriguez runs a karate program for the children in the Hoboken Housing Authority. Karate is one the truest forms of self-expression and with honesty & much love for the craft, a student can appreciate what he or she is given. His dream is to give the ultimate gift of love by putting on fundraising shows to donate to hospitals for sick children.

The Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) is a small, but mighty, Hoboken-based organization that was founded in 1998. Our mission is to promote safe, effective, science-based treatments for autism by sharing accurate, timely, and sound information while also advocating for science to guide decisions on how we can best help individuals with autism. In so doing, we clarify unsubstantiated and inaccurate information about autism treatment (there are absolutely dangerous treatments being marketed to parents such as bleach therapy and chelation). We tirelessly strive to help individuals with autism and their families become more savvy consumers, so they are positioned to make the best possible choices, choices that meet their needs and are guided by best practices and the very best that science has to offer.

Boys & Girls Club of Hudson County: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was founded in 1893 to create a positive place for the youth of Jersey City, NJ, expanding to Hoboken in 1984. In the years since, the Club has expanded its scope exponentially by offering a mix of Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) nationally developed programs and activities unique to our Club. Today, we serve more than 2,700 school age youth annually in 10 sites across Jersey City and Hoboken. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson County's (BGCHC) mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. We offer a comprehensive array of services to meet the diverse needs and interests of our members. Daily after-school and summer activities typically fall into five core program areas, The Arts, Education and Career Development, Health and Wellness, Sports and Recreation, and Leadership and Character Development. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County provides kids and teens: a safe, positive, and inclusive environment to learn and grow; opportunities to build positive, meaningful and healthy connections with their peers and adults; high-quality strength-based activities and programs to explore and obtain skills necessary to make good decisions; experiences that foster hope, belonging and a sense of purpose; and opportunities for youth to lead, contribute their ideas, and be recognized. Our goal is to provide an exceptional Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County For over eighty-six years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County (BGCM, the Club) has put young people on the path to great futures by providing safe, positive Club environments that promote well-being with a mission to empower all young people—especially those who need us most—to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Through education, mentoring, technology skill–building, nutritional and athletic programs, and the arts, the Club has been providing vital services to Monmouth County children since our incorporation in 1938.

The Club delivers our programs within a trauma-informed (TI) framework. Trauma can affect all children, but at-risk youth are especially vulnerable to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the traumatic events and incidents that if left unaddressed, can result in significant negative health outcomes. As a community organization, the Club is in a unique position to provide the interventions and protective factors needed to promote well-being in our young people. Our programming initiatives are now focused on preventing, protecting against, and helping children heal from the effects of trauma through social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and TI care.

Circle Match identifies driven students from low-income communities and empowers them to uplift their hometowns through the college application process and beyond.

Circle Match was founded in 2019 by Michael Sanchez, a Hudson County native and graduate of Memorial High School (in West New York, NJ). From an early age, Michael witnessed the determination of his peers: students who balanced academics, family responsibilities, and part-time jobs, all while striving for futures that reflected their full potential. When his family sought outside guidance from a college advising agency, he realized that while talent was abundant in his community, access to specialized resources was not. Yet, when he was admitted to four Ivy League universities, it wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was proof of what was possible.

Community Lifestyle’s mission is to break down barriers and provide free, high-quality programs for youth and teens, ensuring that financial background is never a limitation. We believe in giving every young person the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances, and we are committed to fostering an environment where all youth can feel empowered, valued, and supported.

Founded in 2017 by Louis Quinones, a beacon of resilience and inspiration. Having grown up in public housing in NYC, Louis transformed the mentorship and guidance he received into a powerful movement that seeks to uplift others. Under his leadership, Community Lifestyle has evolved into a nurturing base where youth and teens find the encouragement, resources, and support they need to carve out successful, fulfilling futures.

Computers For People Inc. was founded in 2019 by then 15 year old Dylan Zajac in Hoboken, NJ. The non-profit was formed through his vision to create a sustainable solution to the mass pollution of e-waste and the ever-growing digital divide. Computers 4 People has grown to a leading organization tackling the digital divide in the New York City Metropolitan area. They have collected, refurbished, and donated over 1400 computers impacting thousands to access job search, education/homework, telehealth, and more. These low-income individuals include formerly incarcerated, homeless, students, senior citizens, veterans, and refugees.

FamilyHood mission is to always provide for our community. We plan events for our community. We do back to school event where we hand out backpacks filled with supplies and hand out free food. In October we do trunk or treat where the kids can trick or treat safely. In December we partner with the Hoboken Housing Authority & HPD to hand out toys and spread Christmas cheer. Those are our 3 big events. In the past we have done mini field trips to turtle back zoo, mommy & me sip and paint, a mini pumpkin picking, boat trip & fishing trips/classes to teach children how to fish. Our members & volunteers also spend time volunteering at HHA events. We plan on doing fishing classes with our VP Mr.Joe McDonald.

For Goodness Cakes - North Jersey Chapter Our agency began in 2016 and the North Jersey Chapter started in 2020. Our mission is to provide food-safety trained volunteers to bake birthday and academic graduation cakes for disadvantaged youth and young adults. Nationwide we have 8,500 volunteers, have baked and delivered 35,000 cakes, and serve 800 partner agencies. In North Jersey we have over 500 volunteers, have baked and delivered 1700 cakes, and serve 37 partner agencies.

To bridge the opportunity gap among youth in underserved communities by providing athlete-driven service programs and training designed to unlock their greatest potential on and off the court, through charitable acts and partnerships.

The mission behind Hayden’s House of Healing is to provide a safe, tranquil space for bereaved mothers, couples, children and families to heal and connect together through a variety of methods and activities offered to assist in the healing process.

The Hoboken Historical Museum is a 35 year old institution whose mission is to educate the public about Hoboken’s rich history, diverse culture, architecture and historic landmarks. A primary focus is children’s programs starting at PreK to high school. The museum is located one block from the Hudson River and is housed in a 19th-century historic building.

Hoboken Shelter: The Hoboken Shelter’s mission is to be a community partnership that transforms lives by providing meals for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, and services to support people to become housed. Since opening in 1982, The Hoboken Shelter has provided 500,000 shelter beds and 2.5 million meals in our community. The Hoboken Shelter houses 50 people nightly, serves 500 meals daily, and hosts over 1,000 showers weekly.

HOPES Community Action Partnership Incorporated (HOPES) is a 60-year-old Community Action Agency established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to combat poverty in Hoboken, New Jersey. Since we opened our doors, our work with and impact on low‐income families has grown beyond Hoboken and throughout different areas of New Jersey, including all of Hudson County and into Union County (Plainfield) and Somerset County. It is our mission to provide services that respond to the social, educational and training needs of individuals in an effort to overcome barriers and fight the causes of poverty; our vision to accelerate positive changes that transform the lives of families in our community; and, our goal to provide a responsive, culturally competent, and person-centered experience for each and every family we engage.

Inspire Life is a nonprofit organization based on the Central Jersey Shore with a mission to empower youth and families to pursue purpose, professions, and positive choices. Through a diverse range of programs tailored to the unique needs of our community, Inspire Life strengthens cultural connections, fosters meaningful relationships, advocates for historically excluded and systemically underinvested groups, and promotes education, STEAM, literacy, film, and the fine arts.

Konscious Youth Development and Service (KYDS) mission is to transform youth, schools, and communities through holistic practices that promote self-awareness, emotional resilience, and collective healing.

Konscious Youth Development & Service (KYDS) was founded in 2014 by Rodney Salomon and Mychal Mills, two leaders dedicated to breaking cycles of trauma, disconnection, and lack of emotional resources that exist in many school and community environments. They recognized that youth—especially those impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—needed more than just academic support. They needed safe spaces to heal, tools to manage stress, and guidance to develop into heart-centered leaders.

KYDS continues to expand its reach and impact by developing collaborative partnerships, deepening its financial sustainability model, and ensuring holistic wellness is equitable, inclusive, and accessible to all. By integrating restorative justice, conscious leadership, and social entrepreneurship, KYDS remains committed to fostering generations of self-aware, socially conscious, and purpose-driven leaders.

Layups 4 Life: Our mission is to raise vital funds for cancer research and clinical trials to assist and advance life changing opportunities in striving for a cancer free future.

Mile Square Theatre: A leading Northern New Jersey regional theatre, whose mission is to produce contemporary and classical works while advancing theatre arts education for adults and children.

Resilience Paddle Sports is a mission-driven business launched in 2013 to build a healthier, eco-conscious community in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. In conjunction, Resilience Adventures, our non-profit youth program arm, was developed shortly after as a resource to connect urban youth to the Hudson River, encourage a healthy, active outdoor lifestyle and promote stewardship of the estuary as well as interest in STEM. Resilience continues to provide easily accessible, daily paddling opportunities for adults while educating the community about the ecology of the Hudson River Estuary. For youth, Resilience offers a variety of programs where students have fun, collaborate with peers, learn kayak and paddleboard skills while discovering the estuary through hands-on activities.

Shoe4Africa is dedicated to improving health and education in Africa by building and supporting public hospitals and schools. The organization focuses on providing accessible healthcare, particularly for children, and empowering communities through education. Their ultimate goal is to ensure that no child is denied medical care or education due to poverty.

The organization continues to expand, now working on building Sub-Saharan Africa’s first children’s cancer hospital, as well as multiple public schools in underserved areas.

Through its initiatives, Shoe4Africa has impacted millions of lives, improving healthcare access and providing education for thousands of children across Kenya and beyond.

The Stratton Community Foundation cares about the health and welfare of children and their families in southern Vermont. The mission of the Stratton Foundation is to address the challenges that stand between a child in-need and the opportunity to be healthy, safe, and learn. Our vision is to help children focus on their education and set them on a path to success and economic independence.

Founded in 2021, Street Life Ministry is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, homeless outreach ministry. We serve the street-dwelling homeless, LBGTQ+ community, and at-risk youth populations in New Jersey,.

2023 was the first year doing street outreach with their mobile outreach vehicle.

Team Walker’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the children of Jersey City through academic and recreation programs that empower the children’s minds, bodies and souls. By creating programs that provide safe and constructive alternatives to the negative influences that plague inner-city youth, and through a structured academic and recreational environment, the children learn the importance of education, responsibility, persistence, teamwork and unity. Team Walker also works to identify development projects to create affordable housing as well as sourcing revenue streams for continued maintenance and operational costs. With access to positive role models and hard-won accomplishments in combination with a heightened awareness of their capabilities, the children and the local community have the opportunity to improve their quality of life significantly.

Its the mission of Team Wilderness to grow teamwork, leadership and character within our urban youth through wilderness excursions.

Team Wilderness was founded in 2016 to address a growing inequity: while access to green space and outdoor learning has been shown to improve academic engagement, mental health, and life skills, many young people in densely populated communities face systemic barriers to these opportunities. From its inception, Team Wilderness has worked to ensure that youth—particularly those from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities—can safely access, explore, and thrive in outdoor environments.

Using an experiential education model, Team Wilderness integrates outdoor adventure with intentional youth development practices. Programs combine activities such as hiking, backpacking, rappelling, kayaking, and nature-based arts and photography with structured reflection, teamwork, and leadership development. These experiences are designed not only to build outdoor skills but also to strengthen confidence, collaboration, resilience, and problem-solving abilities that translate directly into academic, personal, and workforce readiness.

Over the last ten years, Team Wilderness has expanded its reach across the New Jersey and New York metropolitan region, partnering with schools, community organizations, and public agencies to deliver both single-day and multi-day programs. The organization has served thousands of young people over time, engaging hundreds annually—many of whom return year after year, first as participants, then as peer leaders, interns, and program staff—creating a sustainable pipeline of youth leadership rooted in community.

Team Wilderness’s impact and innovation have been recognized by multiple public and private funders and by statewide recognition, including the New Jersey Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for Healthy Communities. Today, Team Wilderness continues to evolve its programming to meet the changing needs of young people, while remaining grounded in its core belief: that meaningful time outdoors, guided by trusted mentors and peers, can be a powerful catalyst for lifelong growth, well-being, and opportunity.

United Children’s Music Project (UCMP) is a bilingual educational organization that uses music as a vehicle for social change for low‐income, mostly Latino children and youth in Hudson County, NJ through low‐cost afternoon orchestral and vocal instruction and regular performances of UCMP’s Children’s and Advanced Orchestras and Chorus. Through a disciplined, cooperative, and fun‐filled learning environment that integrates parental involvement, our structured grassroots program inspires academic excellence, enhances life skills, and builds community.

UCMP empowers Hudson County’s at‐risk children and youth ages 3 to 18 to break the cycle of poverty by: (1) providing free instruments and low‐cost ($2.40/hour) orchestral instruction by bilingual music teachers; (2) engaging parents in their children’s musical education; (3) cultivating children’s self‐esteem, self‐expression, and cooperative learning; and 4) providing regular performance opportunities in the NJ/NY area.

Youth Consultation Services: For over 100 years, YCS has been serving NJs most vulnerable – healing the hearts and changing the lives of thousands of children and families each year. Our Mission is: To partner with at-risk and special needs children and young adults to build happier, healthier, more hopeful lives within families and communities. YCS programs make a real difference in the lives of children who have suffered trauma or face developmental disabilities, and families who struggle to live safely and securely while they heal and grow together.