NYC secures $2M donation from Mackenzie Scott to support children of incarcerated parents

March 25, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Children gather in front of the Children of Promise, NYC sign, showcasing the organization dedicated to supporting those affected by parental incarceration, now bolstered by a $2 million grant from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving.
Photo courtesy of CPNYC

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Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children with incarcerated parents, has been awarded a $2 million grant from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call.

CPNYC stands out as the sole organization in New York City, offering an afterschool program specifically tailored to the needs of these children. This contribution will enable CPNYC to expand its services, including critical mental health care, and extend its reach to more families affected by mass incarceration, it said.

With over 105,000 children in New York state living with the trauma of a parent in prison, CPNYC’s work is as crucial as ever.

“I am deeply grateful to MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving for recognizing and honoring our mission to support the holistic well-being of children with incarcerated parents,” said Sharon Content, founder and president of CPNC.

“More than 105,000 children in New York state have a parent in prison, a traumatic reality that often leads to long-term physical and emotional effects when unaddressed,” Content continued. “This generous award will help CPNYC continue to break the cycle of intergenerational involvement in the criminal justice system by serving each child’s needs as comprehensively as possible.”

CPNYC was chosen from a pool of 6,353 applicants from across the United States after a thorough review process conducted by Yield Giving’s selection committee. CPNYC works in Bedford-Stuyvesant and the South Bronx, where it annually serves 350 children aged 6-18 through its after-school program, summer day camp, and mental health clinic.

“We are excited that our partnership with Yield Giving has resonated with so many organizations,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. “In a world teeming with potential and talent, the Open Call has given us an opportunity to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen.”