BOSTON, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — Room to Grow, a nonprofit organization in Boston, was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from the Mabel Louise Riley Foundation to continue its important work providing “social work support and material resources to families raising babies in poverty during the critical first three years of life.”
Room to Grow offers tangible comprehensive support to babies and their parents early on in order to help strengthen low-income families and disrupt the cycle of generational poverty for disadvantaged communities in Boston. According to the Institute for the Study of Labor, nearly 42 percent of children born to parents in the bottom fifth income level remain there as adults.
In addition, it has been shown that children cultivate 85 percent of their intellect, personality and skills by age five, making these first years fundamental to lifelong development.
Room to Grow provides services to children in their first three years that studies have shown promote school-readiness, reduce instances of incarceration and foster productive participation in the workforce later in life, giving these children a better chance to thrive and succeed in life.
The generous grant of $50,000 from the Mabel Louise Riley Foundation will be used to support the enrollment of 400 Boston babies and their families in our program this year, a 7 percent increase from 2013, and the launch of a supplemental parenting workshop program which will serve up to 150 families at full capacity.
With the support of the Mabel Louise Riley Foundation, Room to Grow is well positioned to fulfill its mission and ensure that babies enrolled in our innovative program get the best possible start in life.
For more information about Room to Grow, including ways to help, visit our website at www.roomtogrow.org.
About Room to Grow:
Room to Grow, a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 and located in Boston and New York, is dedicated to enriching the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. Parents expecting a baby are referred to Room to Grow by selected prenatal programs assisting low-income families. Upon their referral, parents visit Room to Grow’s warm and inviting space once every three months from just before the birth of the baby until their child turns three.
During their one-on-one appointments with our staff social workers, typically lasting two hours, parents receive developmental information, customized support, referrals to other community resources, and all of the needed baby items to ensure a healthy and secure start for their child. The $10,000 of essential material items for the baby that each family receives over the course of three years, including 130 books for the child’s home library, are all donated to Room to Grow by generous individuals and corporations. Room to Grow currently supports 400 families in each location.
About Mabel Louise Riley Foundation:
In establishing a general purpose foundation, Miss Riley’s only suggestion to her trustees was that particular consideration be given to the needs of children and youth. The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation began operation as an active member of Boston’s philanthropic community in May 1972. The Foundation’s interests are developed as a result of Trustee field visits and reports from consultants. Grants are usually made to help an organization address an important community-wide concern or a critical issue, or to achieve a broad impact for the public’s benefit, rather than to meet routine needs.
Media Contact: Emily Epstein, Room to Grow – 617-859-4545
Editorial note: Text based on news announcement as provided by the above organization and is believed correct but is not guaranteed.
