Empowering Youth
We believe in our future generations’ ability to build bridges to a bright future, develop strong leadership skills, and to be guided to post-secondary success. Our programs enable children and adolescents to build confidence and develop the skill set necessary to live fruitful lives for themselves and those around them. We celebrate passion, curiosity, and dreaming big. Through our array of programming and initiatives, we support children and adolescents in their journey to becoming well-rounded individuals ready for their future.
79K
Participants
(All-Time)
BridgeUP + OUT
An after-school program where Scholars develop life skills that they will use long after graduating BridgeUP, such as time management, prioritization, money management, stress management, and healthy lifestyle choices. We make sure they enter the world ready for it.
BridgeUP GiddyUP
BridgeUP GiddyUP provides youth with a unique track to personal development through the medium of horseback riding. The program teaches horsemanship and animal husbandry, and provides a rigorous skills curriculum for students which adhere to the European standards.
BridgeUP STEM
BridgeUP STEM provides the opportunity for high school Scholars and undergrad Fellows to experience intensive, year-round educational programming to teach critical skills, build confidence, and open up pathways in the field of computer science.
Where did the idea for BridgeUP come from?
In 2008, Helen and David became involved with the Hearst Community Mentorship Program, which was dedicated to the guidance, mentorship, and success of a very special group of young men – affectionately known as “The Outsiders” – bound together through their love of baseball. This would ultimately ignite the idea for the BridgeUP Universe, which has since grown to impact the lives of almost 70,000 young people.
BridgeUP Theater in the Schools
Young people in underserved schools are not exposed to theater in ways that allow them to explore it as a potential interest, hobby, or career path. BridgeUP Theater in the Schools has a mission of increasing theater access in rural geographic areas, providing learning resources to 4th to 6th-grade students while offering a five-week residency program for teaching artists.
BridgeUP Environment
Through our partnership with SCA, high-school students are able to work on a variety of local neighborhood beautification projects in their native New York. SCA exists at the intersection of self-discovery and nature protection, and BridgeUP Environment acts as a pathway for students to learn, explore, have fun, and grow over the course of a summer.
BridgeUP Health
This meaningful educational experience provides BridgeUP+OUT students with an opportunity to acquire more in-depth knowledge and skills related to public health issues while also emphasizing the value and importance of civic participation, community engagement, and workforce-relevant trainings and certifications.
Previous BridgeUP Programs
BridgeUP Summer Camp
BridgeUP Summer Camp allows for our BridgeUP+OUT students to leave New York City for the summer and explore the outdoors in ways they may not have had the opportunity to do so prior. The program now operates through independent Magic Grants in partnership with BridgeUP+OUT.
