Victoria Foundation News

Robert Clark was appointed president of Victoria Foundation's Board of Trustees during the board's annual meeting in June. The assignment follows the term completion of former president Frank Alvarez, Ph.D., who served in the role for 10 years. "It's a true honor to serve as board president of Victoria Foundation," said Clark. "Nonprofits across Ne...

According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a living wage is $51,500 for a single adult and $109,591 for a household (which is classified as a working adult with three dependents). The United States Census Bureau estimates that the median yearly income for households in Newark is $48,416. This means that a single adult would have to earn $28.87 ho...

According to a report by the Community Tech Network, "almost half of Americans without broadband at home are either Black or Hispanic, and large percentages of both communities – 70 percent of Blacks and 60 percent of Hispanics – report being unprepared with digital skills, affecting their employability. Moreover, as more jobs move to remote format...

An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree will be conferred to Victoria Foundation Executive Officer Craig Drinkard, who will also deliver remarks at the Drew Theological School's and Caspersen School of Graduate Studies' graduation ceremony at the University's 157th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 17. This award recognizes his significan...

High Schools with Highest Civic Engagement from Students Will Receive Investments from Victoria The Newark Board of Education and Victoria Foundation announced an exciting partnership to empower Newark public high schools, both district and charter, to boost civic engagement among students in the upcoming school board election, in which eligib...

Victoria Foundation Executive Officer Craig Drinkard spoke at the Vote16 Kickoff Town Hall.

The Vote16 Kickoff Town Hall was held on Feb. 1 at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark. The event – presented by the City of Newark and Victoria Foundation partner New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ), in conjunction with other partners The Gem Project, Clinton Hill Community Action, and Urban League of Essex County – provided inf...

Victoria Foundation concluded its 100-year anniversary festivities with a gala at The Newark Museum of Art on Dec. 4, 2024. Partners, funders, community leaders, and friends were in attendance to celebrate the Foundation's rich history.The Foundation also distributed $2.5 million in grants at the gala. The Centennial Impact Awards were given to sev...

Victoria Foundation's Executive Officer Craig Drinkard and Trustee Gary Wingens were named to the 2025 ROI Influencers Power List, presented by Return On Information – New Jersey (ROI-NJ). The media outlet publishes news and features about New Jersey's business community and recognizes remarkable leaders. According to ROI-NJ, Drinkard was chosen in...

MLK AWARDS CELEBRATION – Pictured from left: Sherri-Ann P. Butterfield, Ph.D., NJPAC senior vice president of social impact; Robert Clark, founder and executive director of Newark Opportunity Youth Network; Denise V. Rodgers, M.D., vice chancellor for interprofessional programs, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences; John Schreiber, NJPAC presiden...

2024 was an impactful year for Victoria Foundation as it not only celebrated its 100th anniversary, but it also awarded $12.8 million in grants to organizations aligned with the Foundation's mission of empowering Black and Brown residents and other marginalized communities in Newark. The grants support Newark-based nonprofits as part of the Thrivin...

As part of this year's Hispanic Heritage Month, which ran from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, several Victoria Foundation grantees presented "From Rebellion to Excellence: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Newark's Puerto Rican Rebellion of 1974," a month-long series of events that commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Newark Puerto Rican Re...

Newark Future Forum Brings Together Thought Leaders for an Impactful Day Hundreds gathered at the Paul Robeson Campus Center at Rutgers University – Newark on Saturday, Oct. 12, for the Newark Future Forum. Presented by Victoria Foundation, in partnership with Rutgers University – Newark, the one-day symposium featured local and national experts, r...

BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION – Pictured are Hasani Council, Chief of Staff for South Ward Councilman Patrick O. Council, Cecilia Martinez, Communications Specialist at Victoria Foundation; Maritza Arauz, Executive Director at FOCUS; and Councilman at-Large Luis A. Quintana. As part of its centennial celebration, Victoria Foundation distributed $5,000...

The Fairmount Heights Children's Village Park reopened on August 16, after a $1 million renovation project partly funded by Victoria Foundation. The park, located at South 9th Street and 12th Avenue in Newark's West Ward, was originally built in October 2012 and named KaBoom Park. However, the park fell into disarray over the years. Broken equipmen...

Victoria Foundation partner Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA) recently celebrated five years of community impact in Newark. The South Ward staple – an organization that partners with residents to revitalize the Clinton Hill neighborhood – marked the occasion by hosting a celebratory event and launching its new logo. "A 5-year Journey of Building...

Register to Hear from Renowned Experts and Thought Leaders  Victoria Foundation, in partnership with Rutgers University – Newark, will host the Newark Future Forum: Building Together on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, located at 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Newark, New Jersey. This exciting ...

Three Newark Neighborhoods at the Heart of Effort to Strengthen Community Power and Well-being Newark, NJ – August 29, 2024 – Victoria Foundation is proud to announce the Thriving Neighborhoods Initiative, its expanded place-focused approach to strengthen the power and self-determination of communities in Newark, New Jersey. The Thriving Neighborho...

Organization Helps Newark's Latinx Population with Services, Programs.  The Latinx community makes up one-third of the population in Newark and is the fastest growing ethnic group in the city, driving Newark's population gains since 2010. To help the underserved in this community, as well as other marginalized people within the Lower Broad Str...

Victoria Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of De'Shawn Wright to its Board of Trustees. He was unanimously elected as a member during the Board of Trustees' Annual Meeting in June and joins the Foundation with more than two decades of experience in a variety of roles, including leadership positions within education and the nonprofit s...

Hear from Renowned Experts and Thought Leaders on Oct. 12 at Rutgers University As part of our centennial celebration and ongoing commitment to strengthening community power, fostering economic justice, and promoting youth self-determination in Newark, New Jersey, Victoria Foundation, in partnership with Rutgers University — Newark, is thrilled to ...

In 2024, Victoria Foundation partner My Brother's Keeper Newark (MBKN) marked 10 years of service in collaborating with nonprofits across Newark with the goal of developing a safe and supportive community for boys and young men of color. The organization has been a powerful ally. MBKN's three-pronged approach – collective action, research and repor...

As part of our centennial celebration and commitment to strengthening community power, fostering economic justice, and promoting youth self-determination in Newark, New Jersey, Victoria Foundation is excited to announce the Newark Future Forum: Building Together. On Saturday, October 12, 2024, we will be convening at Rutgers University – Newar...

2024 is a landmark year for Victoria Foundation as we commemorate our 100th anniversary. As one of the oldest foundations in New Jersey and a long-standing funding partner in Newark, this moment offers a unique opportunity for us to reflect on our impact, as well as build on our rich history. While we look back, we are also looking ahead to steppin...

Victoria Foundation is excited to announce that Diana Kostas has joined our team as the new Chief Financial Officer. She will be responsible for the day-to-day strategic and managerial leadership of finance, investments, and information and technology to ensure that they align with the Foundation's mission and framework to grow self-deter...