Nyc Kids Rise Inc

NYC KIDS RISE PROVIDES FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES WITH A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. BUILDING ON THE DREAMS AND EXPECTATIONS THAT FAMILIES HAVE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURES, NYC KIDS RISE AIMS TO MAKE ATTENDING AND GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE MORE ACHIEVABLE FOR ALL NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS-REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY COME FROM OR HOW MUCH THEIR FAMILIES HAVE IN THE BANK. NYC KIDS RISE MANAGES THE SAVE FOR COLLEGE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

SAVE FOR COLLEGE - IN FY 2021, NYC KIDS RISE ENROLLED ITS FOURTH COHORT OF KINDERGARTNERS IN NYC SCHOOL DISTRICT 30 IN THE NYC KIDS RISE SAVE FOR COLLEGE PROGRAM, INCREASING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENROLLED STUDENTS TO MORE THAN 13,500, WHICH REPRESENTED 96% OF ALL THE KINDERGARTNERS, FIRST-GRADERS, SECOND GRADERS, AND THIRD-GRADERS ACROSS THE 39 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 30. EACH OF THOSE STUDENTS RECEIVED AN NYC SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT (A SUB-ACCOUNT WITHIN NY'S COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM DIRECT PLAN). DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, NYC KIDS RISE DEPOSITED MORE THAN $706,700 INTO PARTICIPATING STUDENTS' NYC SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY $119,000 IN FAMILY-EARNED REWARDS AND MORE THAN $253,000 IN COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS FROM LOCAL AND CITYWIDE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. THESE COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDED NEW PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS FOR STUDENTS, INCLUDING 27 VIRTUAL COLLEGE AND CAREER SESSIONS FOR THIRD GRADERS. NYC KIDS RISE IMPLEMENTED THE SAVE FOR COLLEGE PROGRAM SCHOOL CALENDAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 39 SCHOOLS, WHICH INCLUDED KEY ANCHOR EVENTS SUCH AS NYC SCHOLARSHIP MONTH IN JANUARY AND 529 DAY IN MAY. NYC KIDS RISE ALSO PROVIDED TRAINING TO MORE THAN 438 PARENT COORDINATORS, SECRETARIES, TEACHERS, AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF TO HELP THEM TAKE THE LEAD ON SUPPORTING EVERY KINDERGARTEN STUDENT TO ACTIVATE AND VIEW THEIR NYC SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS AT EVENTS SUCH AS THESE. IN ADDITION, NYC KIDS RISE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED 46 VIRTUAL FAMILY-FACING WORKSHOPS WHERE FAMILIES COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PLATFORM AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE TO TAKE THE FOUNDATIONAL STEPS IN THE PROGRAM; AND HOSTED 7 TOWN HALLS FOR THE SAVE FOR COLLEGE PROGRAM COMMUNITY, TO SHARE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION WITH FAMILIES. , FINALLY, NYC KIDS RISE CONTINUED TO ADVANCE SYSTEM CHANGES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO COLLEGE SAVINGS PRODUCTS FOR NYC'S DIVERSE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, INCLUDING SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATING FOR MONEY ORDERS AS AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF DEPOSIT IN THE NY 529 PROGRAM.

COVID RELIEF - WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE PANDEMIC, SCHOOL DISTRICT 30 FOUND ITSELF AT THE EPICENTER OF THE EPICENTER. NYC KIDS RISE WAS ABLE TO LEVERAGE ITS EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS, COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS AND ACCOUNT INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO 5,396 PARTICIPATING FAMILIES IN THE FORM OF $150 GIFT CARDS IN FY21. COLLECTIVELY, FAMILIES RECEIVED $1.5 MILLION TO SUPPORT THEM WITH IMMEDIATE NEEDS SUCH AS BUYING FOOD, PAYING UTILITIES, PAYING RENT AND SUBSCRIBING TO INTERNET SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSES OF REMOTE LEARNING.