In 1987, a group of friends came together to research ways they could address New York City's serious social issues. Finding few established options to help, they took matters into their own hands and founded New York Cares. . Their initiative has now become city's leading volunteer organization. The volunteer model pioneered by New York Cares was so successful, it sparked a national movement. More than 250 volunteer organizations, united under the umbrella of HandsOn Network, have adopted New York Cares' unique approach to service.



New York Cares runs volunteer programs at 1,000 nonprofits, public schools, and city agencies to help meet the critical needs of people living in poverty. They offer a full range of volunteer opportunities, including helping children learn to read, preparing meals for homeless and housebound people, helping low-income students get into college, delivering job training to unemployed men and women, revitalizing public parks and schools, providing companionship and meals to the elderly, giving coats to people who don't have them, and much more. New York Cares' volunteer tax preparers help low-income New Yorkers reclaim millions of dollars in refunds and credits each tax season. In 2010 volunteers put more than $16 million back into the hands of those who need it most; with the average family receiving approximately $1,750 in refunds.

In the spring of 2010, New York Cares launched a new program to help disadvantaged high school students succeed. Sophomore Skills was designed to prepare students for the longstanding Kaplan SAT Prep program. Students in Sophomore Skills work with volunteers to get up to speed on basic math and English skills. This enables their time spent with SAT tutors in to be even more successful.

New York Cares also runs a variety of educational programs to help New Yorkers break the cycle of poverty. They meet immediate needs by providing warm coats to people who are cold, hot meals to the hungry, and holiday gifts to needy children. Volunteers practice critical math and reading skills with children, help unemployed adults find jobs, assist new immigrants as they learn English, and more. The programs have helped 400,000 men, women and children in need last year, many of whom have been living in poverty for generations.

People volunteer with New York Cares year after year because they know the programs make a real difference. Together, these 48,000+ volunteers annually assist hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged New Yorkers with citywide days of service, corporate volunteer programs, disaster preparedness programs, and youth service opportunities. Visit New York Cares to find out more.