A Unique Fiver Partnership

Andre and Jonathan Jean-Pierre are twin brothers who graduated from the Fiver program in 2011. Jonathan currently serves on Fiver’s Board of Directors and works in Human Resources at Google, and Andre serves as a NYPD officer in Far Rockaway, Queens. In 2022, they approached Fiver with the idea of creating an abbreviated summer experience for boys from Far Rockaway and Harlem who were involved in a year-round mentoring program—Far Rockaway and Harlem Giants—founded by Andre’s supervisor, NYPD Lt. Lenora Moody. The Far Rockaway and Harlem Giants program was founded in 2018 to provide youth with the opportunity to receive mentorship, learn life skills, play football, and build community with the local police department.

Funding for this summer partnership came through the Camp-School Partnership Demonstration Project, a collaboration between the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and the American Camp Association (ACA), which are 501(c)(3) national nonprofits. This work was made possible by generous support from the New York Life Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Pinkerton Foundation. Additional funding was also provided by the National Grid Foundation and the NYPD Foundation.

We provided a three-night camp experience for 39 boys, aged 9–14, from Far Rockaway and Harlem, at Camp Fiver in late August. Far Rockaway and Harlem Giants participants engaged in various activities, including Gaga Ball, fishing, boating, environmental education classes at the creek and lake, and weaving. Our staff enjoyed bringing the Camp Fiver experience to a new group of youth in this way. We are grateful to all of the funders who helped make the NYPD and Camp Fiver partnership a reality. Check out this article featured in amNewYork that highlights our unique partnership!