The Devils Youth Foundation is working to create a world where youth are empowered and enabled to make decisions that positively impact their lives. New Jersey’s youth face unprecedented challenges that stifle their growth potential and negatively impact their quality of life. The Devils Youth Foundation is taking on these challenges by creating and expanding youth programs through strategic partnerships with community organizations in the areas where we live and work.
EQUITABLE ACCESS
Inclusive sports programming
Sports incentive healthy activities, combats obesity, and provides safe spaces for kids grow and play. Yet 3 in 10 child athletes have lost interest in playing organized sports due to COVID (Aspen Project Play). Urban kids are almost twice as likely as suburban kids to no longer be interested in sport. At the Devils Youth Foundation, we believe Sport is Powerful and we are working to make sports and hockey accessible to all by bringing our resources and our platform to raise awareness and to continue to be part of the solution in our communities.
CREATING SAFE SPACES
Improved physical and mental well-being and life skills
Now more than ever, kids need places where they can learn, recharge, and express themselves in a safe environment. One of the first steps toward improving the lives of black youth is to create safe spaces for people of color of all ages, backgrounds and disciplines to share experiences and talk openly about issues relating to mental health. The Devils Youth Foundation is working to create a world where youth are empowered and enabled to make decisions that positively impact their lives.
Food Insecurity
Working to provide access to nutritious meals
When children do not have enough food to eat, they can suffer direct and dramatic effects on their physical development and mental well-being. Children who are worried about where their next meal may come from cannot focus on schoolwork or sports. The Devils Youth Foundation is working with our partners to provide access to nutritious meals to the nearly one of every three Newark youth who struggle with food instability.
ART EXPERIENCE
Increase student participation & access to music & the arts
Access to arts and quality arts education is powerful. Students who take four years of arts and music classes score an average of over 150 points higher on the SAT than students who take only one-half year or less and Low-income students are highly engaged in the arts are twice as likely to graduate college as their peers with no arts education.
