Native New Yorker, Sacramento Kings Player, Moe Harkless, Donates To Young People In NYC Who Have Been In The Foster Care System

In Partnership With New Yorkers For Children & ACS, Harkless’ Generous Donation Will Provide Extra Financial Support To Older Youth Who Have Transitioned From Foster Care

January 14, 2022 – Today, Sacramento Kings Player and Queens, NY native, Moe Harkless, donated to the Last Resort Emergency Response Fund managed by New Yorkers For Children in partnership with the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) for the second year in a row. The donation will provide emergency financial support to older youth who have had experience in the foster care system, and who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, funds will be used to assist with college tuition, laptops for school, transportation costs, medical bills, and more.

The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, in addition to facilitating this donation, has contributed to the Last Resort Emergency Response Fund to support families and young people across all five boroughs.

“New Yorkers For Children is so grateful to Mr. Harkless for his generous gift again this year! This funding provides essential support, via our Last Resort Emergency Response Fund, to youth who have transitioned from the foster care system. Hardships created by COVID-19 are evident not just in the total number of youth this fund has already served, but in the nature of the requests for funding. COVID-19 has merely exacerbated an already-existing crisis such as housing instability and food insecurity and this generous grant from Moe Harkless comes at just the right time. He has certainly brightened up the new year for at least 50 youth who need it most,” said Saroya Friedman-Gonzalez, Executive Director, New Yorkers For Children.

“Moe Harkless shows us once again that true New Yorkers—no matter how far from home—never forget to give back to their communities,” said Daniele Baierlein and JL Paniagua Valle Co-Executive Directors of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “We’re thankful to his generous support to families and young people in Queens as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“ACS thanks Moe Harkless for his kindness and generosity, which will be a wonderful gift to many of our young people striving to succeed as they leave foster care,” said Winette Saunders, ACS First Deputy Commissioner. “With this generous donation, older youth who have been in the foster care system, including those who have been hit especially hard by the pandemic, will be provided with added support to help pay for college tuition, laptops for school, and more. As a native New Yorker, it’s clear that Moe’s heart remains in his hometown of New York City and we’re happy to have him on our team!”

“This means the world to me, to be able to team up with ACS and the city of NY again to help youth in my hometown who have been affected by the many obstacles during this tough holiday season. With their help we were able to provide some assistance for about 50 youth in need of help covering rent, utilities, and other essential things” said Sacramento Kings Star, Moe Harkless

About Moe Harkless:

Moe Harkless, a Puerto Rican, Jamaica Queens native and NBA star for the Sacramento Kings is an art collector, wine enthusiast, fashion + culture trendsetter, and social justice advocate. Not only is he an NBA star whose passions include art & creativity, but in the wake of Covid- 19 and George Floyd he is channeling his own creativity and utilizing his access to a wide audience of fans to launch an IG live quarantine show in partnership with Uninterrupted hosting “Wine Wednesdays” with other wine enthusiasts such as Amar’e Stoudemire and Sommelier Devin Reed, and has thrown his support behind black social justice initiatives and causes by launching his own black social impact resource platform ‘Black Lives Now’ with information on Black Owned Businesses in NYC and LA, Black Mental Health programs, Voting information, organizations and other interactive ways people can help the black community, Black owned restaurants, Black owned wine companies, books written by Black authors, Black music, Black contemporary artists and more. On the court, Harkless is a Small Forward on his hometown team, the NY Knicks. He was previously on the LA Clippers, the 2019 Western Conference finalists Portland Trailblazers and the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat & New York Knicks.

About the NYFC/ACS COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund:

New Yorkers For Children and the NYC Administration for Children’s Services established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund in March 2020 to address urgent needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic among children and families involved with ACS. The Fund’s strategic partnership with philanthropy and individuals has helped raise and disperse over $1.5 million in support of vulnerable children and families to ensure they have received the critical support needed to stay afloat in the face of the COVID-19 challenge. To date, the fund has reached over 3,285 individuals and families since April; with nearly $500,000 in direct cash support going to nearly 1,000 families in need and older youth in foster care.

About New Yorkers For Children:

As the nonprofit partner to the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), New Yorkers For Children (NYFC) protects, ensures, and promotes the safety and well-being of NYC’s children and families, with an emphasis on transition-age youth in foster care. NYFC is a hybrid organization that provides direct services to youth in foster care, in addition to acting as a backbone organization – functioning as project manager or grant manager – and subcontracting programs to community providers and experts. NYFC serves about 1,000 youth annually, ages 18 to 26; aiming to enroll them in college, support them through graduation, and help them gain the skills needed to enter the workforce. For more information, please visit https://newyorkers.wpengine.com/.

About the New York City Administration for Children’s Services:

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes safety and well-being of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care and education services. For more information, please visit: www.nyc.gov/acs

About the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City:

The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization working with 50 City agencies and offices, 300 institutional funders, and 100 community-based partners. The Mayor’s Fund and its partners advance initiatives that improve the lives of New Yorkers from all walks of life and across all five boroughs. In particular, the Mayor’s Fund has made strategic investments to promote mental health services for all New Yorkers, increase workforce development opportunities for young New Yorkers, and meet the needs of New York City’s diverse immigrant community. Learn more at www.nyc.gov/fund, sign up for our newsletter, or connect with us on Twitter.