New York Life Foundation awards $1.8 million to help middle schoolers stay on track.

New York Life | July 24, 2025

30 Out-of-School-Time programs receive 2025 Aim High grants to combat chronic absenteeism and support 9th grade readiness, with $13.4 million awarded since launch.

NEW YORK - The New York Life Foundation, in partnership with the Afterschool Alliance, announced $1.8 million in new grants to support 30 afterschool, summer, and expanded learning programs in 18 states and the District of Columbia.  These programs help middle school students in under-resourced communities combat chronic absenteeism and transition successfully to high school.

The new grants are part of the Foundation’s Aim High initiative, now in its ninth year. With this latest round of funding, the Foundation has committed a total of $13.4 million to support out-of-school time (OST) programs through the Aim High initiative since it first launched.

Half of this year’s 30 Aim High grants will help OST programs implement strategies to improve educational attainment by reducing school absences and chronic absenteeism, which is a widespread challenge facing schools nationwide. The remaining grants will provide general operating support to OST programs that help students successfully transition from 8^th to 9^th grade. The 2025 grants were awarded through a competitive selection process and are being distributed to OST organizations in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.  

Heather Nesle, president of the New York Life Foundation and board member of the Afterschool Alliance said, “These programs foster resilience, build essential skills, and provide safe, supportive spaces for learning and growth while helping parents work and grow the economy. This year, we are proud to support innovative efforts that directly address the national challenge of chronic absenteeism. Reducing absenteeism isn’t just about improving attendance; it’s about strengthening the very fabric of our communities and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.”

Research shows that participation in high-quality afterschool, expanded day, and summer programs leads to greater academic achievement, better school attendance, and more engaged students.

“We are extremely grateful for the New York Life Foundation’s deep and ongoing commitment to support and highlight extraordinary afterschool programs,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “The Afterschool Alliance is honored to continue collaborating on this program. We congratulate this year’s award recipients and thank the New York Life Foundation for its extraordinary generosity.”

The 2025 Grant Winners

Fifteen organizations are being awarded $100,000 grants over two years ($50,000 per year) to reduce school absences and chronic absenteeism:

·       Boys & Girls Clubs of the Colorado River, Bullhead City, Arizona

·       Life Skills for Youth, Little Rock, Arkansas

·       Improve Your Tomorrow, Sacramento, California

·       GOODProjects, Inc., Washington, District of Columbia

·       Life Pieces To Masterpieces, Washington, District of Columbia

·       Artist ReEnvisioning Tomorrow Inc (ART Inc), Peoria, Illinois

·       LEAP for Education, Salem, Massachusetts

·       Bronx Lacrosse, Bronx, New York

·       Children Of Promise, NYC, Brooklyn, New York

·       Maspeth Town Hall, Inc., Maspeth, New York

·       OpenDoors Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina

·       Community Connect Center, Fargo, North Dakota

·       African Youth & Community Organization, Portland, Oregon

·       Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lakelands Region, Greenwood, South Carolina

·       West River Foundation, Sturgis, South Dakota

Fifteen organizations are being awarded one-year grants of $20,000 to help students transition to the 9^th grade:

·       Breakthrough Silicon Valley, San Jose, California

·       Girl Power Rocks, Inc., Miami, Florida

·       Close Ties Leadership Program, Atlanta, Georgia

·       Jared’s Heart of Success, Atlanta, Georgia

·       High Jump, Chicago, Illinois

·       Project: VISION, Inc., Chicago, Illinois

·       Waukegan to College, Waukegan, Illinois

·       Wisdom Projects, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland

·       So What Else, Inc., Rockville, Maryland

·       Project Dream, Inc., Detroit, Michigan

·       Centro De Cultura Arte Trabajo Y Educacion, Norristown, Pennsylvania

·       Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

·       Girls Inc. of TN Valley, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

·       Camp Fire First Texas, Fort Worth, Texas

·       PAIR: Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees, Houston, Texas

The Afterschool Alliance convened a selection committee of experts in the OST field, including youth, to assess applications and make grant recommendations.

ABOUT THE AFTERSCHOOL ALLIANCE

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.AfterschoolAlliance.org.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK LIFE FOUNDATION

Inspired by New York Life’s tradition of service and humanity, the New York Life Foundation has, since its founding in 1979, provided over $470 million in charitable contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation supports programs that benefit young people, particularly in the areas of educational enhancement and childhood bereavement. The Foundation also encourages and facilitates the community involvement of employees and agents of New York Life through its Volunteers for Good program and Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative. To learn more, please visit www.newyorklifefoundation.org. 

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