Our History
In 2009, Sharon Content founded Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC) after growing increasingly concerned about the lack of support offered to young people who experience parental incarceration.
Children of Promise, NYC is the first and only after-school program and summer day camp in NYC specifically designed to meet the needs, interests, and concerns of children left behind by a parent serving time in prison. Since its inception, we have provided services to over 1,500 children and their families. The organization has developed broad collaborative relationships and community partnerships, raised over $5M dollars in government and philanthropic funding, and established its own innovative and holistic model to support children of incarcerated parents in leading healthy and productive lives.
Timeline
INCORPORATION
May 30, 2006
Children of Promise, NYC receives its Certificate of Incorporation.
ENACTION
November 27, 2006
Governing By-Laws of Children of Promise, NYC are enacted.
AWARDED FIRST GRANT
July 1, 2008
The New York State Department of Education awards Children of Promise, NYC a 5-year, 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, for $613,000, to provide 250 children of incarcerated parents with after school and summer day camp services.
Children of Promise, NYC OPENS ITS DOORS
March 2009
Children of Promise, NYC celebrates its official kick-off by opening its doors at 600 Lafayette Ave, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, to 200 children impacted by parental incarceration. The CPNYC integrated model is launched.
AWARDED $600,000 BY DYCD
May 2012
Children of Promise, NYC receives two major grant awards, totaling over $600,000 from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to continue providing its critical, innovative, and unique model to children of prisoners in an after school and summer day camp setting. Over the years, DYCD will become one of the agency’s greatest advocates.
GETS CERTIFIED
February 1, 2013
Children of Promise, NYC receives its Operating Certificate from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to operate its onsite Article 31 Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS).
SIGNS 10-YEAR LEASE
September 27, 2013
Children of Promise, NYC signs a 10-year lease and enters into a major construction and renovation project at 54 MacDonough Street in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The agency designs and customizes a 10,000 square-foot, raw space into a beautiful new home for the children and families served by the organization. Children of Promise’s new facility offers 10 classrooms, 5 therapeutic session rooms, a gymnasium, library, computer laboratory, music room, performance stage, art-therapy room, 7 administrative and executive offices, and a backyard playground.
DOORS OPEN
March 17, 2014
Doors open on the new Children of Promise, NYC location.
SIGNS LEASE FOR SOUTH BRONX LOCATION
March 13, 2019
Children of Promise, NYC signs a lease on a second program location in the South Bronx, after receiving a grant from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to renovate a new space. In the new location, Children of Promise will replicate its customized model for addressing the unique needs of children of incarcerated parents and their families.
BREAKS GROUND
August 2019
The agency breaks ground on its new location. Children of Promise, NYC will now be able to provide its cutting edge services to over 600 children, and their families, in 2 locations, each year.
Children of Promise Receives Spark Prize
January 2020
Children of Promise, NYC was chosen as a 2020 recipient of the Brownsville Community Justice Center's annual Spark Prize for their creative and effective approaches to advancing racial and social justice.
Children of Promise Responds to COVID-19
March 2020
COVID-19 has been an attack on millions of people across the world. It has been particularly hard on marginalized communities that do not have access to healthcare, people living with health issues, and people who live in small quarters and don’t have the ability to quarantine. CPNYC stepped up for Brooklynites who needed our care and resources to ensure their families were able to eat, have medicine, technology support for home schooling, tele-therapy, and virtual mentorship.
Children of Promise, NYC Receives $2 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Open Call
March 2024
Children of Promise NYC, receives a significant $2 million donation as a part of Scott's Yield Giving Open Call, a grant-making initiative aimed at supporting high-impact organizations.
Children of Promise, NYC Celebrates 15th Birthday
May 2024
Children of Promise NYC marks its 15th anniversary, celebrating a decade and a half of dedication to supporting children of incarcerated parents. Founded in 2009, the organization has made significant strides in providing educational support, mentorship, and resources to help break the cycle of incarceration. The milestone event reflects on the impact made over the years, honoring the achievements and courage of the children and families served.
