Nyc Kids Rise Inc

NYC KIDS RISE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING TO EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY BY PROVIDING 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.

IN FY 2022, NYC KIDS RISE ENROLLED ITS FIRST COHORT OF KINDERGARTENERS CITYWIDE IN NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE SAVE FOR COLLEGE PROGRAM (THIS WAS THE 5TH YEAR OF OPERATION FOR THE NONPROFIT). THIS INCREASED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENROLLED STUDENTS TO MORE THAN 77,200 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS (65,938 WERE NEW PARTICIPANTS) -- 97% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE. EACH NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENT RECEIVED AN NYC SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT (A SHADOW ACCOUNT WITHIN NY'S COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM DIRECT PLAN). DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, NYC KIDS RISE DEPOSITED MORE THAN $7.1M INTO PARTICIPATING STUDENTS' NYC SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING FAMILY-EARNED REWARDS AND COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS FROM LOCAL AND CITYWIDE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, NYC KIDS RISE RAISED OVER $2.1M IN COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS. NYC KIDS RISE IMPLEMENTED PIECES OF THE SAVE FOR COLLEGE PROGRAM SCHOOL CALENDAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHICH INCLUDED KEY ANCHOR EVENTS SUCH AS NYC SCHOLARSHIP MONTH IN MAY (BECAUSE THE CITYWIDE ACCOUNTS OPENED IN LATE APRIL, DURING FY 22 NYC SCHOLARSHIP MONTH WAS CELEBRATED IN MAY, WHEREAS IN PAST AND FUTURE YEARS IT IS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY); AND KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION IN JUNE. NYC KIDS RISE ALSO PROVIDED TRAINING TO PARENT COORDINATORS, SECRETARIES, TEACHERS, AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF FROM THE OVER 1000 PARTICIPATING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO HELP THEM TAKE THE LEAD ON SUPPORTING EVERY PARTICIPATING STUDENT TO ACTIVATE AND VIEW THEIR NYC SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS. NYC KIDS RISE ALSO SUPPORTED DISTRIBUTION OF (AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF) THE KINDERGARTEN FINANCIAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM EXTENSIONS. IN ADDITION, NYC KIDS RISE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED 26 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 3 TRAININGS FOR THE CCITY'S FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS AND THEIR COUNSELORS. FINALLY, NYC KIDS RISE CONTINUED TO ADVANCE SYSTEM CHANGES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO COLLEGE SAVINGS PRODUCTS FOR NYC'S DIVERSE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, INCLUDING ADVOCATING FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS TO BE A QUALIFIED USE IN THE NY 529 PROGRAM.