Our Projects
Gabrielle’s Wings has partnered with multiple organizations since 2017 to provide educational and enrichment opportunities to elementary-aged children of color in vulnerable communities. We are grateful to have partnered with:
- Camp Morty
- Girl Scouts – Heart of the Hudson
- Grace Freedom Summer Camp Program
- The Hord Foundation Inc.
- Huguenot Children’s Library
- Jack and Jill of America Inc (Westchester Chapter)
- My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
- The Sharing Shelf’s Backpacks to School Drive
- The Westchester Community Foundation, a division of the New York Community Trust
- The YMCA of Greater Seattle
Camp Scholarships
Gabrielle’s Wings has supported several academic and community based programs to offer academic and educational scholarships to those in need.
Partners have included, Grace Freedom Summer, sponsored by the Grace Baptist church of Mount Vernon, New York and the Ujamaa CDC, The Campership Fund, My Brother’s Keeper and Camp Morty. These camps focus on giving children exposure and educational opportunities they may not have access to otherwise.
Gabrielle's Corner - Cape Town
Gabrielle’s Wings partnered with Cape Gateway International Church and Believers World Outreach to create a learning resource center, which includes internet access and iPads, computers, books and curriculum for children in the community. This is the only such resource center within 30 miles of this Pelican Park Township in Cape Town, South Africa.
Swimming Pilot - Seattle
Partnering with the YMCA of the Greater Seattle Area, Gabrielle’s Wings piloted a water safety program specifically focused on children of color in vulnerable communities. The program provided water education and family engagement activities to 180 youth and their families. Black children are three times more likely to drown in the U.S. than their white peers.
We envision a national call to action in which ALL children, especially those of color, have the opportunity to learn to be safe around water, swim and have fun.
Gabrielle's Corner - Belize
Gabrielle’s Wings has created three separate “Corners” in partnership with Believers World Outreach, the Sagebrush Church, the Hope Haven safe house for at risk women and children and the Holy Cross school. These projects provide curriculum and resources to encourage and empower children. Additionally, we have built a secure and fenced playground at Hope Haven so children can safely enjoy outdoor play and learning activities.
Gabrielle's Corner Huguenot Children's Library
The first “Gabrielle’s Corner” was created in Gabrielle’s home town of New Rochelle. The collection is currently housed at the Huguenot Children’s Library. The lovely reading nook and specialized collection is curated by education and library science professionals and offers books focused on diversity, inclusion and kindness.
This “Gabrielle’s Corner” was created to give children a peaceful, welcoming space to read and dream. The nook celebrates Gabrielle’s love of reading and features one of Gabrielle’s paintings.
Gabrielle's Playground, New Rochelle
In November 2018, Gabrielle’s Wings opened a $250,000 new playground in Gabrielle’s honor at the William B. Ward Elementary School in New Rochelle, New York. This playground is fully accessible to children of all abilities and to the entire community. The previous playground which sat in this space, was Gabrielle‘s favorite place to play.
Many of the touches on the new playground celebrate art, performance, and music – things that Gabrielle enjoyed and that will help the many children of the community flourish.
Gabrielle's Kitchen, Girl Scout House, New Rochelle
On what would have been Gabrielle’s eighth birthday, we granted our first donation of $10,000 to Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson in New York.
The funds were used to renovate a Girl Scout House in New Rochelle, New York, and “to ensure that all Girl Scouts have access to the resources they need to embrace their leadership potential,” according to a Girl Scouts press release.
Gabrielle White was a member of Girl Scout Troop 02988 and loved earning badges and baking in the Girl Scout House.
Backpack Drives
In honor of Gabrielle’s birthday, Gabrielle’s Wings partnered with The Sharing Shelf to help fund their backpack drive for Westchester-area children in need.
In 2021 we held an in-person event to celebrate what would have been Gabrielle’s 12th birthday and through online and in-person contributions we donated enough funds to fill 200 backpacks with age-appropriate school supplies.
Academic Scholarships
In partnership with The Hord Foundation, Inc., Gabrielle’s Wings has provided academic scholarships to high school graduates of African descent pursuing higher education. The Hord Foundation, Inc. was started by Gabrielle’s maternal grandparents in 1993.
Gabrielle’s Wings supported scholarships based on academic excellence and students pursuing social, civic, or education studies. These specific scholarships were named in memory of Gabrielle’s great-grandparents and her maternal grandmother.
