The Ordway’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's “Cinderella” partners with a nonprofit to bring fairy tale moments for girls in low-income families. Operation Glass Slipper is the fairy godmother to these girls who dream of attending their high school proms. The project provides dresses, new shoes, and accessories hoping to make a memorable prom experience in the spring.
“Its such a lovely mission that Operation Glass Slipper has,” said Ordway president Patricia Mitchell. “The Ordway was really happy to be a part of helping them achieve it.”
In January, Operation Glass Slipper received 200 dresses, 40 pairs of shoes and 50 pieces of jewelry. Besides individual donations, the nonprofit also received help from local bridal and prom shops, as well as corporations.
Teens in Brooklyn turn away from guns, drugs and gang life thanks to the volunteer-based nonprofit founded by Barnabas Shakur. Since 2001, Project Re-Generation has attracted 5,000 volunteers who assist with legal services, career guidance, interview skills, and after school tutoring. Shakur says the goodness of the community is what has made Project Re-Generation work. While giving teenagers guidance is a priority, adults are encouraged to participate.
Programs for Teens:
Citywide, New York City faces a staggering 50% dropout rate. However, those involved in Project Re-Generation have 96% graduation rate, and many go on to pursue a university education.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among LGBT and questioning adolescents. The Trevor Project makes itself available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by telephone for young people in crisis:
We promise to create a safe space, through our lifeline and online, for LGBTQ youth. We promise to deliver our message of suicide prevention in schools throughout the country. We promise to hire a highly qualified and professional staff and providing them with incentives. We promise to operate our board, our committees, our lifeline, our offices and our events with the utmost integrity.
The Trevor Lifeline is 866-488-7386. It's free and confidential. TrevorChat is also an option. Youth can access instant messaging each Friday. With the help of sponsors like Wells Fargo, Google, and Levi Strauss, The Trevor Project has fielded more than 200,000 calls from teens in crisis.
Reel Grrls equips adolescent girls with the power of storytelling and communication through film. Participants come from diverse backgrounds and discover their own voices under the guidance of professional filmmakers. Founded in 2001, this Seattle-based non-profit sponsors after-school, weekend, and summer day camp programs in media & technology training that empower young women to "critique media images and to gain media technology skills in a safe, open environment, mentored by a network of multi-cultural women media professionals." With equality and advancement serving as a compass, Reel Grrls teach youth to be media literate and realize their capacity to change the world.
Diane Latiker of Chicago's Roseland Community saw the issues facing children in her neighborhood. Truancy, high dropout rates, drugs, violence, and neglect just scratched the surface. Latiker boldly accepted responsibility for their lives and futures with the founding of Kids Off the Block (KOB).
This 501 (c)(3) nonprofit empowers youth with choices in education, leadership, and job training. The KOB Community Center also provides recreational activities and a safe place for young people to be. The organization now partners with Fenger High School to see students have access to programs in Health/Fitness and Nutrition, Cultural Arts, and Sports.
Kids in sub-Sahara Africa make friends and find mentors around the world through Infinite Family. The organization connects volunteers from their own homes anywhere in the world with children in Southern Africa. For those who choose to become mentors, it's an opportunity to share advice, direction, their lives, and to listen to child in need.
Volunteers must commit to 30 minutes a week for one year. Infinite Family provides training and connects mentors to vulnerable children by video conferences. Pre-teens and teenagers speak face-to-face with their "net buddies." Youth may talk about a homework challenge, career options, their dreams, and life in general. The point is that someone is listening and cares.
