A Cozy Gift from the Heart

Furnishing an apartment gives young adults a place to feel safe and at home. Recently, one sibling pair who were aging out of foster care and sharing an apartment received an added gift from Cynthia O'Hagan, a member of the Hearts to Homes community, who was inspired to provide custom hand-crocheted blankets. The young women were thrilled with the gift, especially since they were able to request their favorite colors.

Cynthia is happy with how this idea to give something tangible turned out. “I wanted these girls to know that someone cares about them. I’m happy if I can make someone feel loved. That’s what we are supposed to be doing in life.”

In an amazing coincidence, we learned that one of these sisters had learned to crochet in middle school, prompting her to say, “It got me thinking, hmm, maybe I should go back to that as a hobby!" There is so much more to this amazing story. Follow the link to read more.

Open Hearts Event will Honor Jess Dannhauser

Join Hearts to Homes on Tuesday, March 11, 6-9 p.m. at City Winery for our largest annual fundraiser.

This year, we are looking forward to honoring Jess Danhauser, Commissioner of NYC's Administration for Children's Services for his commitment to improving the lives of young people in foster care. Commissioner Danhauser is the former President & CEO of Graham Windham, a mission-driven organization focused on building the foundation for success in life with NYC children and youth, in close partnership with their families and communities. Graham serves approximately 4,500 children and their families each year and is one of H2H's thirty referring partners.

Tickets are now available, as are opportunities for sponsorship and video journal ads. Pledge your support today!

Amazing Year-End Support!

Thank you to all who donated during our year-end campaign. Your support will help Hearts to Homes continue providing the warmth and comfort of home to young adults in our community. Our year-end efforts, which included Giving Tuesday and our Annual Appeal, raised approximately $72,000, enough to furnish 60 apartments for young adults in New York City.  

Introducing Our New Director of Development

We are excited to have Anthony Bailey join Hearts to Homes as Director of Development. He is a passionate leader and developer dedicated to revitalizing underserved communities. With over a decade of experience in real estate development and social impact, he has a gift for building strong relationships and securing the resources needed to bring transformative projects to life.

A proud SUNY Purchase graduate with an MBA and ongoing PhD studies, he balances his career with being a devoted father of three. In his free time, Anthony enjoys volunteering, cycling, and exploring new places. His mission is simple: to build not just structures, but opportunities for a better future.

When asked what he feels connected with about the Hearts to Homes' mission, Anthony replied:

"I have a personal connection with the mission. As a community advocate, I teach financial literacy. One of the things I discuss with individuals is to have your home as a safe space emotionally and financially. At Hearts to Homes, we provide a safe space and assurance for individuals allowing them to have a comfortable living environment."

Welcome, Anthony. We are excited to you as part of our team.

From Foster Care to Independence

Yvette’s journey is truly inspiring. After aging out of foster care together three years ago, she and her sister decided to share an apartment. Hearts to Homes offered the sisters the furnishings they needed, modifying what we would typically provide to recognize that there were two people being supported.

Now, Yvette is taking a bold step forward—creating a place to call her very own, and Hearts to Homes is there, once again, to offer a helping hand.

Yvette shared:

"Three years later, I decided to reach out to [Hearts to Homes] when I got the keys to my apartment and once again, they helped by providing me with my bed and dresser. I’m so grateful for programs like this that help youth who were in foster care to start building a place of their own to call home. The best thing about having my own place is having a relaxing space to come home to and decompress."

With your generosity, we’ve provided Yvette with the furnishings she needs to turn her new apartment into a warm, welcoming space. Stories like hers remind us why we do what we do and how Hearts to Homes support can sometimes happen over several years.

It is not uncommon, for example, for someone going into supportive housing to not need any furniture. In that case, we can provide them with over 70 non-furniture household essentials - cleaning supplies, bedding, bathroom items, safety supplies, kitchen items. Then in a year or two, when it is time to leave supportive housing and move, young adults can return to us for help with the furniture that they didn't originally need.

Your support makes all of this possible, allowing our alumni to know that we can support their needs, even if they unfold over time.