Building Bright Beginnings: A New Program with Infinite Impact

Building Bright Beginnings Graphic

“Can you please get some sheets for my three-year-old son instead of getting me a comforter?” This is just one of many sincere and heartstring-tugging requests we’ve received from young parents aging out of foster care—parents who are willing to go without so their children can feel safe and cared for in a new home.

This is one of the many reasons we’re so excited and proud to announce Building Bright Beginnings, a new Hearts to Homes program that provides essential items for the infants and children of the young adults we serve—things like cribs, strollers, toddler beds, highchairs, baby dishes, and safety gear.

Nearly 1 in 3 referrals to Hearts to Homes is for a young adult who is aging out as a parent. Not only do they need to transition themselves from foster care to independence, but they also need to create a safe and comfortable home for their child. Thanks to generous seed funding, we launched this initiative in May to give young families a stronger start. Already five families have received these important baby and toddler items.

If you are interested in helping support the needs of young families, your gift to Hearts to Homes can be made specifically to this program by selecting Building Bright Beginnings when you “make a monetary donation.” Or follow the link to “donate furnishings now” and find a choice of three child-focused bundles that you can provide today. We need your help to keep this new program growing and positively impact the lives of young families!

Open Hearts Guest Speaker: Monica Malcolm

Executive Director, Mary Theresa McCombe (left) welcomes Monica Malcolm to Open Hearts event
Executive Director, Mary Theresa McCombe (left) welcomes Monica Malcolm to Open Hearts event

On March 11, Hearts to Homes was thrilled to welcome Monica Malcolm to our Open Hearts event to share a little bit with our guests about her H2H experience. Here are a few moments from that evening:

Mary Theresa: And now for my final happy responsibility, I would like to invite Monica Malcolm to join me on the stage. Hearts to Homes was first introduced to Monica in August of 2021 when she was aging out of care and referred to us by Rising Ground. If we all remember August of 2021, it was still “COVID time.” Furniture was in short supply with huge supply chain issues. When I look back at texts with Monica it was “this can be delivered on this day” and “that can be delivered on that day,” and she took it all in stride.

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A Gift from the Heart:  Hobby brings warmth and comfort to a new home!

Hobby Article Photo

There may be nothing cozier than a warm blanket, crocheted with love and kindness in your favorite color, to wrap yourself in when it is too cold to go outside. It can almost feel like a hug, especially when you know that the blanket was made just for you. At least, that is how Cynthia O’Hagan sees it, and why she wanted to make a very special contribution to the home of Maximine B. and her sister, Michelle M.

Maximine and Michelle recently aged out of foster care. They got an apartment together and had that apartment filled with all the necessary home furnishings that Hearts to Homes provides. As Maximine tells it, they weren’t expecting to have their home completely furnished: “When me and my sister moved in, we didn’t really have much, or enough money to buy all these things, so once we were sent them ,we were like wow that was amazing! And continued to save more money for the rent. It was actually very helpful.”

Hobby Article Photo
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2024 Was a Year of Amazing Impact!

2024 recap

Alfred is 20 years old. He worked with his foster agency’s employment specialist and is now in training to get his Commercial Driver’s License. Not surprisingly, he has a goal to save up enough to purchase his own car. 

Isabella is 21 years old. She would love a job in marketing or advertising, and would ultimately like to start her own business. In a perfect world, she would be managing people in the entertainment industry. Right now, she’s working on her college degree.

Nalla is 23. She’s in college, hoping to finish her degree soon. While moving into her first independent apartment is her primary goal, she is investing in her long-term health by taking Pilates classes and planning to learn to ride a bike for the first time! Someday, she hopes to give back by +≠teaching financial literacy to young adults.

These are just some of the 183 young adults who turned to Hearts to Homes for help with furnishing their first homes in 2024. Since our inception in 2016, we have assisted a total of 764 young adults aging out of foster care and, this year, crossed a threshold of having provided over $1.6 million in essential home furnishings!

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Not Just a Number: Young Adults with Hopes and Dreams

For individuals in transition from foster care to independence, the future can seem unclear. With so many variables up in the air, a permanent home might feel like just another thing to worry about. But, thanks to the resources that Hearts to Homes provides, those aging out of foster care can feel supported, hopeful, and ready for a bright future ahead. As Devin Boney, a Housing Specialist with our referring partner The Jewish Board, recently said, “Hearts to Homes is not just an organization; it’s a beacon of hope, guiding individuals towards stability, dignity, and the chance to thrive.”

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Hearts to Homes Celebrates National Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care Month, and Hearts to Homes is celebrating with a goal to facilitate more new beginnings for young adults aging out of foster care. At Hearts to Homes, our core mission is to empower individuals aging out of foster care by transforming empty living spaces into a place they can call home. Please join Hearts to Homes in our May 2024 campaign to raise $40,000 to furnish nearly 20 new homes.


Every dollar donated will help provide the essentials to furnish a first apartment and support a young adult leaving foster care. Whether your donation helps purchase pots and pans, a comforter, a shower curtain or a coffee table – you will be helping create a stable, healthy home.

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Cheyanne Deopersaud Speaks at Open Hearts at City Winery 2024 

Photo courtesy of Bridget Badore

Hi everyone, Thank you so much for taking the time out to celebrate such an amazing program!

Standing before you today, I’m filled with immense gratitude and a sense of accomplishment that once seemed beyond my reach. I began to live independently at the age of 19, a transition marked by uncertainties and the stark reality of stepping into adulthood with not much more than my laptop and a few pieces of clothes to my name. It’s a journey that truly underscores the transformative power of Hearts to Home, an organization that has been a beacon of hope and support for someone like me.

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We Welcome Two New Referring Partners

The Jewish Board Logo

Hearts to Homes is pleased to announce two new referring partners – Lawyers For Children and The Jewish Board.

Lawyers For Children’s ACT Project provides legal and social work services to young people aging out of foster care, directing specialized attention, advocacy, and resources to this critically underserved population. Through the ACT Project, their clients achieve better educational outcomes, acquire job training, receive therapy and appropriate medical services, and get help developing meaningful connections to caring adults who can support them through their transition to adulthood and beyond. Providing sustained and intensive advocacy for these young adults can make a dramatic positive difference in their lives, helping them enter the community as successful, independent adults.

Hearts to Homes is pleased to announce a partnership with The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. The Jewish Board strengthens families and communities throughout New York City by helping individuals of all backgrounds realize their potential and live as independently as possible.

2023- Recap of an amazing year!

2023 review statistics

As we reflect on 2023, Hearts to Homes is thrilled to share a milestone that fills our hearts with pride: furnishing a record-breaking 165 apartments! That’s a 35% increase from the previous year, when we furnished 122 apartments.

This incredible achievement brings our total to 584 furnished apartments since Hearts to Homes began. More than just numbers, these are homes for independent young adults, including the parents of 192 custodial children, contributing to family stability and brighter futures.

In May, we announced that we had reached a major milestone as we crossed the threshold of $1 million in essential home furnishings provided!  The timing of that announcement could not have happened at a better time – during National Foster Care Month.

Recognizing the importance of employment and the variety of factors that may prevent achievement of some educational goals, in September, we announced the expansion of our services to all youth who age out of care with a job, regardless of their educational credentials.  Prior to this expansion, a young person needed to have a high school diploma, a trade certificate or two completed parts of the GED.

The last quarter of 2023 was particularly astounding, with 51 apartments furnished – a 59% increase compared to the same period in 2022. This growth reflects the increasing need for our services.

We are able to meet this need because of the unwavering support from our community.

Every furnished apartment is a step towards breaking the cycle of instability and building a foundation for a promising future. We’re grateful to every individual donor, corporation or foundation who has been part of this journey – your support turns these aspirations into reality.

Here’s to continuing this impactful journey and transforming even more lives in the coming years. Thank you for being a vital part of our mission!