Groundwork

Groundwork in a East New York-based youth achievement program. It began with seed money from Echoing Green, and then Blue Ridge came on as a funder. Founded in 2002, the program set up after school programs in certain East New York elementary and middle schools, and also offers a four year college prep program. Groundwork's communications director, Monte Givhan, a Yale Law graduate, explained to me yesterday how they focus on literacy but have a holistic approach to helping their target group. Their services include family assistance and even lifestyle lessons for the children, such as on etiquette and diet. Groundwork itself has a storefront office on Sutter street, within walking distance of some of the schools it serves. The organization was recently chosen to be part of a new city project, Opportunity NYC, an incentive program where families and children will be paid for good attendance, getting a library card, etc.

It's likely that for my multimedia project I'm going to focus on three organizations: Blue Ridge Foundation, Echoing Green, and Groundwork. The former two are the venture philanthropists, the latter the social entrepreneur. The relationship between the groups could prove illuminating on what venture philanthropy can actually do.