501(C) (3) Organization Certified Angels Begins Grant Funding Initiative for Youth Arts Center and Arts Program to Serve Adolescents in Passaic, NJ

Join me in supporting the non-profit 501(C)(3) organization Certified Angels whose mission is to provide a safe haven for adolescents in Passaic, NJ.

I am excited to share that I am working with Certified Angels to facilitate grant funding opportunities for the establishment of their proposed arts center at a designated location (to be secured) and to roll out a comprehensive after-school arts program with a career track that will serve children and adolescents living in the City of Passaic and surrounding communities.

Passaic is an underserved community that in 2013 had a population of 70,868, 71% Latinos, with a median household income of $37,332, or an estimated per capita income of $15,249. Certified Angels recognizes the tremendous financial need of the City of Passaic and the significance of offering arts programs in one of the poorest communities in New Jersey that without the foundation’s support would not be able to have access to theater, music and dance training.

Certified Angels supports after-school programs in the arts for youth as being highly effective tools to empower youth by giving them the opportunity to explore their creative, artistic sides, which in turn can complement youth’s self-esteem and confidence. Certified Angels’ vision is to incorporate a career track by offering dance, acting and music classes led by professionals in their respective fields.

Certified Angels is the brainchild of Founder and CEO Jessica Delacruz,

Certified Angels is the brainchild of Founder and CEO Jessica Delacruz, who graduated from William Paterson University in 2014, where she received a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology. Delacruz has a passion for working with the youth of Passaic that began through her employment at organizations such as NJ After 3, the Boys and Girls Club of Passaic/Paterson, Urban Crisis Council Daycare, and the Passaic Board of Education.

Delacruz shares that Certified Angels allows her to fulfill her lifelong dream of “making a difference.”

Certified Angels Mission

Our mission is to create a safe space for our youth and children to find comfort in who they are, discover their talents and learn how to share them with the world. We focus on developing a healthy balance of mind, body and soul by encouraging creativity, physical activity and self awareness. Certified Angels is a non- profit that aims to create an atmosphere where our members feel embraced for who they are and supported in their journeys to become the best version of themselves

For more information visit, Certified Angels.