Lawrence Nonprofit Among 3 Awarded $30K In Grants For Local Youth Programs

LAWRENCE, NJ — A Lawrence-based nonprofit that serves families experiencing homelessness is one of three local organizations sharing $30,000 in grants from a group of young donors.

The NextGen Giving Circle of the Princeton Area Community Foundation announced on Oct. 29 that HomeFront, HomeWorks Trenton and The Father Center of New Jersey will each receive $10,000.

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HomeFront's grant will support its Atkinson Child Development Center at its Family Campus in Ewing. The center serves up to 30 children, ages 6 months to 5 years, who are staying at the emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness. It gives the children developmentally appropriate support and gives their parents peace of mind, according to the foundation.

"One of the things that stood out to us was that these organizations are not just addressing immediate needs, they're helping young people build a stronger foundation for the future," said Jeremy Perlman, one of the giving circle's founding members. "Whether through early childhood development, educational support, or mentorship and leadership training, each program is making a lasting impact on the individuals served and our community."

The other two grants went to Trenton nonprofits:

• HomeWorks Trenton received a grant for its After-School Residential Program for high school girls. Participants live in the HomeWorks dorm from Sunday to Friday and get rides to and from their public schools. The program includes academics, identity-driven leadership, study hall, field trips, internships and weekly mental health counseling.

• The Father Center of New Jersey received a grant for Developing Young Men, Young Leaders, a leadership and life-readiness program for teens and young men. The program combines case management, academic support and long-term mentorship to help participants graduate from high school and move on to college, careers or skilled trades. Each participant gets a personal plan covering academics, emotional wellness and career goals.

The NextGen Giving Circle was founded in 2017. It's one of more than 400 charitable funds at the Community Foundation and has given $240,000 to local nonprofits so far.

Anyone can join, though most members are Gen Z or millennials. Members pool their donations and meet once a year to review funding requests and recommend grants.

"The Giving Circle has brought together collaborative young professionals who deeply care about our community," said member Caitlin Kolczynski. "Each year, a diverse group of applicants raises our awareness of local needs and sparks stimulating conversation during grantmaking sessions."

"The Giving Circle shows us what pooled grantmaking can achieve, something we'll each carry with us into the future," she added.

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