As summer winds down and school buses begin their routes again, thousands of families are getting ready for the first day of a new school year. Students are refilling their supplies and parents are filling out forms, but for many, this time of year adds additional pressure. New schedules have to be arranged, schoolwork begins piling up again, and questions about childcare, academic support, college planning, transportation, and finances quickly return to the forefront.

At JCCGCI, back-to-school season carries a resounding urgency, as we look to stand behind students of all ages all across New York, not just on their first day, but on every day after. You can help make that possible. A gift to JCCGCI this back-to-school season helps make sure that no student in our community has to face this year without the support they need to succeed, and helps keep our education and youth programs free for the families who depend on them.

Throughout our education and school-affiliated programs, that commitment takes many forms. JCCGCI works with students of all ages ranging from childhood through the transition into adulthood, helping create opportunities for young people to stay engaged, build confidence, explore their interests, and begin thinking seriously about what comes next. At Abraham Lincoln High School in Coney Island, our Horizons Academy program helps students prepare for college and careers while giving them access to guidance as they begin making broader and more impactful life decisions. Through our School Violence Prevention programs at I.S. 288 and Rachel Carson High School, JCCGCI works directly with students to help foster safer and more supportive school environments. In Crown Heights, our after-school programs provide younger students with meaningful ways to spend the hours beyond the traditional school day, creating environments centered around education as well as hobby-based enrichment that develops their skills outside of the classroom.

Across all of our youth-serving programs lies a consistent mission: to help young people see greater possibility in their own futures. Education can shape the way a young person develops and thinks about themselves, and the right support can help make opportunities that once felt distant begin to feel achievable. Just as important as preparing students for what comes next is giving them the space to discover what they want that future to look like. Exposure to new interests, experiences, and possibilities can shape the ambitions young people begin to set for themselves, turning education into something that reaches far beyond grades or graduation.

Making that possible requires a community willing to invest in the future of our youth. Every one of JCCGCI’s educational programs is offered completely free of charge to the families and students who treasure them, and so donor contributions play a crucial role in continuing to provide the services that give students access to meaningful opportunities for both academic and personal growth throughout the year.  As summer comes to a close, we hope you will consider helping us make sure that the young people of our community have the support they need to feel confident about their future, as we believe that every child deserves a fair shot, no matter what they’re starting with. As backpacks get packed and the first bell approaches, join us in making this school year brighter for New York’s students.

👉 Visit JCCGCI.ORG/DONATION to make a gift to help a New York student start the year the right way.

👉 Learn more about our education programs at JCCGCI.ORG/PROGRAMS/EDUCATION-SERVICES