FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT
Jessica Ortiz
jessica@risestrategygroup.com
(312) 550-0102
THE STEVE FUND AWARDED $600K GRANT BY THE JACK KENT COOKE FOUNDATION TO EXPAND PROGRAMS ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR
The Nonprofit Will Utilize the Grant to reach over 385,000 People by March 2024 via In-Person and Virtual Workshop Modules, Wellness Circles, Social Media, and More
NEW YORK—The Steve Fund (TSF), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization supporting the mental health and well-being of young people of color, today announced they are the recipient of a $600K grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF), the foundation dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial needs. The grant will allow the TSF to expand its reach and impact on the mental health of young people of color by strengthening the organization’s existing signature programs.
These programs include initiatives surrounding equity in mental health on campus, small and large-scale conferences, seminars, and wellness circles, and expanding partnerships with youth-serving organizations. Additionally, the grant will allow TSF to reach a larger audience via digital content and social media. Across all of these endeavors, TSF aims to reach 385,000 people by March 2024.
“In our decades of working with students, we’ve long observed the important connection between students’ mental health and their academic success. We know that on-campus support can make all the difference,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “This new funding supports our commitment in ensuring that campuses across the country have the resources needed to support students’ well-being so they can take full advantage of a postsecondary education. We’re very proud to help accelerate the impact of these three great organizations.”
“We could not do what we do without the help of donors like the Jack Cooke Foundation who partner with us to achieve greater impact,” said Evan Rose, President of the Board of Directors, The Steve Fund. “The grant will allow us to expand critical programming as we strive to improve the mental, emotional, and behavioral health of young people of color.”
The Steve Fund works with young people, families, colleges and universities, mental health experts, nonprofits, researchers, and employers to promote programs and strategies that build understanding and assistance for the mental and emotional health of the nation’s young people of color. The organization strives to help young people transition from adolescence into higher education and into the workforce to attain personal, academic, and career success and achieve their full potential.
About The Steve Fund
The Steve Fund is the nation’s leading organization focused on transforming educational, organizational, and workplace environments to enhance supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. Building knowledge and capacity among organizations serving young people is a critical element of the Steve Fund’s Mission. The Steve Fund offers an array of solutions designed to assist colleges, universities, nonprofits, and workforce organizations in improving their mental health and emotional well-being support for young people of color.
About the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded almost $250 million in scholarships to nearly 3,200 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $125 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org
