As we approach the holiday season and the close of another calendar year, I want to thank you for your continued support in 2022.
New Leaf Foundation marked our 15th anniversary this summer, and making it to this milestone is no small thing. We are led by such a strong community of people who believe that every youth deserves to experience a sense of peace and well-being in their lives, and we work hard every day to help ensure no young person is left behind.
Adaptability and creativity were the name of the game again in 2022. But these are qualities New Leaf has always embraced, so we were well prepared to meet the challenge.
We continued to offer virtual and, when possible, in-person programming & education in collaboration with 19 community partners. When pandemic-related disruptions continued at our custody programs, we shifted gears and distributed 120 care packages to youth that included custom-made mindfulness journals and a book called The Mindful Athlete by George Mumford. We also shared our online Mindfulness Toolkit – a set of DIY lesson plans & activities – with a whopping 169 educators across 12 schools.
As we look towards 2023, New Leaf is in a critical phase of rebuilding. After 3 long years of minimal in-person programming and events, we’re investing in growing our team to meet the needs of the communities we engage, as well as re-envisioning our fundraising initiatives and prioritizing reconnecting with our community.
If you are called to support our work in any financial capacity, please consider joining our new Better Together campaign. Monthly donations of any size help to build a strong foundation for us to plan around for the upcoming year.
Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season,
Laura (Executive Director) and the New Leaf family