RTS Spreading Smiles This Giving Season

This giving season, Roads to Success (RTS) was proud to help spread joy, warmth, and a whole lot of smiles to youth and families across our community. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our partners and supporters, more than 600 gifts were distributed to young people across multiple RTS program sites, a powerful reminder of what’s possible when compassion and community come together.

At the heart of this effort was New York Cares, whose donor community stepped up in a remarkable way. New York Cares committed to approximately 600 gifts, thoughtfully matching each child’s wish with a donor who made it possible. While 537 individual gift requests were submitted, many donors went above and beyond, sending multiple gifts for a single child, turning wishes into moments of true delight.

These gifts reached youth across the following RTS-supported school and community sites:

• Boston Secor
• Amber Charter School (Inwood Elementary)
• Amber Charter School (East Harlem)
• Teachers College Community School (Upper)
• Teachers College Community School (Lower)
• Ampark Neighborhood School
• Ballet Tech
• Hyde Leadership Charter Middle School
• Level Up (PS 333 & Lafayette Academy)
• MS 206 Jose Celso Barbosa
• MS 644
• MS 839
• PS 532
• PS 770 – The New American Academy
• Renaissance School of the Arts
• New Design Middle School

In addition, New York Cares supported an additional 300 gifts that were delivered directly to PS/MS 57, with special thanks to Marcela Garcia, RTS role-model, for managing and coordinating this effort.

We were also deeply moved by the generosity of the children and families at All Souls School, who donated an extraordinary 500–1,000 gifts for children ages 0–5, delivered directly to RTS Cornerstone Program at Boston Secor. Their kindness ensured that even our youngest community members felt the warmth and care of the season.

Across every site, gift distribution days were filled with excitement, laughter, and genuine moments of connection. Seeing young people open gifts chosen just for them, gifts that reflected their interests, personalities, and dreams, was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

To every donor, partner, family, and volunteer who helped make the 2025 RTS Gift Drive possible, thank you!

Your generosity helped create moments of joy that will be remembered long after the season ends. Together, we continue to show our young people that they are seen, valued, and supported, today and always.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Roads to Success.