Insurance broker NFP has helped raise $1 million for at-risk children in Washington, D.C., public charter schools through its support of charitable initiative Project Wish List.
“The need for additional funding for schools has never been greater, particularly with all the challenges of 2020 and 2021, which have been especially disruptive for public charter schools,” said Alan Meltzer, managing director of The Meltzer Group, an NFP company. “To say our involvement in Project Wish List has been personally rewarding is an understatement.”
In developing Project Wish List, NFP coordinated with Katherine Bradely, a D.C.-based philanthropist and founder and board chair of CityBridge. They approached 12 local schools to develop a “wish list” of things they needed to provide educational and extracurricular programs, but could no longer afford.
“Schools have faced extraordinary challenges over the past year and a half,” said Daniela Anello, head of school at DC Bilingual. “Support from Project Wish List came at a pivotal time, as we made our way back into the classroom and worked to meet the critical needs of our students and families this school year.
“Project Wish List helped meet these needs with new laptops, mental health support for teachers, and parent-teacher home visits to help with a strong reopening this year. We are forever grateful for this partnership and commitment to high-quality education for our district’s children and youth.”
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Among the projects and schools funded were Rocketship, an instrumental music program; Digital Pioneers, which is increasing the number of extracurricular sports, activities and clubs for students; and DC Bilingual, which provides mental health counseling for teachers.
“NFP has become a champion for some of our best schools and most innovative leaders in the D.C. education space,” Bradley said. “NFP is a true friend and advocate for educators and children in the city.”
In addition to the $100,000 donation from NFP, major donors to Project Wish List included: Kimberly Berger, Josh Bernstein, Katherine Bradley, Matt Jaeger, Alan and Nadine Levin, Alan and Amy Meltzer, Evan Morgan, the Bender Foundation and the Freeman Foundation.
“Our hope is to continue growing Project Wish List and extending its positive impact to even more schools,” said Ethan Foxman, president of NFP’s Atlantic region.
