New York City-based Robin Hood has announced the $10 million launch of FUEL for 50, an initiative to support parents and caregivers of local children 3 and younger.

Through the initiative, fifty nonprofits that support parents and caregivers will receive unrestricted grants of $25,000, access to workshops and support, and opportunities for up to $1 million in additional funding to scale their efforts. According to Robin Hood, the early developmental stage of ages 0 to 3 is the most critical to a child's lifelong learning and outcomes, yet nearly a quarter of New York City children within this age group live in poverty and have little or no access to such resources.

Robin Hood aims to strengthen early learning in every borough of New York City and demonstrate the relevance of this work for organizations beyond the field of child development. To that end, community programs and organizations, including those that have never previously applied for support from Robin Hood, are encouraged to apply through a simple, open application process.

"Parents and caregivers are children's first teachers, building the most important skills for their lifelong learning and success. Thousands of New York City families take on the hard work of parenting without access to basic services, housing, food, or income — challenges made worse by systemic inequities and the COVID-19 pandemic," said Robin Hood managing director of early childhood programs Kelvin Chan. "Health and nutrition providers, organizers, immigrant advocates, faith communities, mutual aid networks, and more have filled gaps in vital services for our city's most vulnerable families throughout the pandemic. As we rebuild a (new) New York, FUEL for 50 seeks to celebrate and strengthen all of the different types of organizations helping families living in poverty get back on their feet."

(Photo credit: Robin Hood)