Meet the NYC Nonprofits
Make a Mark Selects 10 NYC Nonprofits
Make a Mark is back in the Big Apple for the second NYC Make-a-Thon! 10 incredible organizations from NYC and the surrounding areas were chosen for the Make-a-Thon, a 12-hour design and development marathon benefiting local nonprofit and humanitarian causes. This year’s site leaders Ana Realmuto, Derya Akbaba, and Rebecca Gladstone chose to focus the event on supporting organizations that empower womxn.
The team felt so lucky to speak to all these organizations making an impact in a city where sometimes it can feel like no one cares. It was a difficult decision choosing from all the applications, but ultimately the team is so excited to announce the nonprofits that will be working with Make a Mark for this year’s event.
Now is your chance to meet these nonprofits before the NYC Make-a-Thon on March 9, 2019 at General Assembly in Flatiron.
GlamourGals Foundation
60% of seniors living in senior homes do not receive any visitors. GlamourGals is changing that. GlamourGals inspires companionship and conversation through complimentary beauty makeovers given by teen volunteers to residents living in senior homes and senior day centers. GlamourGals volunteers provide seniors with a restored sense of dignity through personal attention and the warmth of caring touch, as well as the opportunity to share their stories. Learn more.
Healthy Kids First
Healthy Kids First was founded by Chef Ayesha Gordon, an NYC-based professionally trained chef. Since its inception, the organization has delivered interactive nutrition presentations and cooking demonstrations to school-aged children. Their “Take a Bite” program distributes portable, nutritionally sound brown bag meals to eligible children. They also work to drive research initiatives to identify and measure food insecurities, roles of income limitations and lack of resources, and consequences of food deprivation on a child’s overall physical, psychological and emotional health. Learn more.
Just as I Am YOUth Empowerment
Just as I Am YOUth Empowerment (JAIA) empowers teens and young adults through the use of mindfulness techniques and universal life principles. They offer workshops and retreats in personal and leadership development to build healthier relationships and develop a stronger sense of self-worth and efficacy. The organization addresses topics and skills including healthy dating, consent, dating violence prevention, non-violent and effective communication, group facilitation and entrepreneurship. Learn more.
Latinas On the Verge of Excellence
Latinas On the Verge of Excellence (L.O.V.E.) was devised to address the specific challenges that face adolescent Latinas in New York City. Issues with self-esteem, mental health and school retention harshly affect young Latinas. By creating an environment focused on mentoring support and empowerment, L.O.V.E. impacts education by contributing to increased high school graduation rates, college enrollment, and healthy lifestyles among young Latinas. Learn more.
OnPoint NYC
OnPoint NYC supports the hardest to engage, high-risk active drug users and sex workers who are often misunderstood, are service-resistant and fearful of traditional care providers and are stigmatized/marginalized. This population needs ongoing engagement and compassionate care, assistance with basic human needs such as food and shelter, and support as they navigate a world in which they have experienced trauma, abuse and untreated mental and medical health issues. OnPoint NYC connects with this group, providing safer drug use and safer sex supplies and education, risk reduction counseling, overdose prevention and linkage to care and treatment. Learn more.
STEAM 16
STEAM 16 teaches African American youth about Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, and Math through rap music. American classrooms are falling behind in STEAM education, but the outlook for careers in STEAM is positive and growing nearly twice as fast as other industries. STEAM 16 gives youth the ability to create and promote their own music videos about STEAM subjects, increasing their excitement and engagement. Learn more.
Seeds of Fortune
Seeds of Fortune is a scholars program creating the next generation of financially empowered young women of color. The organization has a college prep program that helps 10th and 11th grade minority girls apply for college scholarships, as well as teach professional and financial management skills. In addition, Seed University is a collegiate network for Seed Alumni to further develop their financial and career skill sets during their undergraduate college experience. Learn more.
Urban Pathways
Since 1975, Urban Pathways has engaged New York City’s homeless men and women and helped them to “find their way home.” Through a housing first approach and utilizing a comprehensive continuum of services, Urban Pathways’ goal is to provide these men and women with the tools and support they need to move from the streets into homes of their own and rejoin their communities. Each year, Urban Pathways serves more than 3,700 men and women through its programs. Learn more.
Women Make Movies
For more than 45 years, Women Make Movies, a nonprofit media organization in New York, has helped elevate diverse women directors and producers and brought issues facing women around the world to light. The largest distributor of films by and about women in the world, WMM also supports hundreds of independent filmmakers each year with with their Production Assistance Program. As the industry faces increased pressure for change, WMM helps fill the pipeline of rising filmmakers and reinforce the work of established women filmmakers who are paving the way for future generations. Learn more.
WomenWerk
WomenWerk is a women’s empowerment nonprofit founded in 2013 and based in New York City dedicated to the vision that women must lead to create equitable change. They connect and celebrate women in the tri-state area to realize their personal and professional goals. They leverage the robust power of women by building community partnerships with organizations that believe in gender equity, curating networking and professional development events, and connecting women and girls seeking mentorship around three areas: career, civics, and entrepreneurship. Learn more.
Thank you to our generous supporters!
A special thank you to General Assembly, SALT, Black Seed Bagels, Butter & Scotch, Natalie’s Juice, Irving Farm and Eisenberg’s.
Thank you to our organizational sponsors: Abstract, Balsamiq, Real Thread, Sticker Mule and Mindsense.
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