The Fiver Children’s Foundation takes its name from a celebrated work of fiction. Richard Adams’ novel, Watership Down, focuses on the survival, leadership, and courage of a group of rabbits, led by the visionary rabbit Fiver, who set out to find a better way of life.
Inspired by the novel, Founder and Chairman of the Board Tom Tucker established the Foundation in 2000 to benefit children from underserved communities. What began as a summer camp has evolved into a comprehensive, year-round youth development organization.
Our Approach
10-Year Commitment
Each year, 8 and 9 year-olds are referred to participate in the Fiver program with the understanding that they will be part of the program for ten years. This decade-long commitment ensures continuity of relationship with Fiver children and their families.
Focus on Character Education
All participants are introduced to Fiver’s character education curriculum, the Whole Self Program, upon enrolling in Fiver. This curriculum is incorporated into all program areas throughout the ten years and helps create a culture of affirmation at Fiver.
Through group activities, discussion, and individual goal-setting, the program promotes children’s understanding of and appreciation for the five qualities valued at Fiver: being a Friend, an Individual, a Valuable Team Player, an Environmentalist, and a Risk Taker.
Developmentally Appropriate Program Stages
The Fiver children progress through the following four stages during their decade-long tenure:
LEARN (ages 8-12) participants focus on developing self confidence and broadening their perspective with regard to goals and dreams.
TAP (ages 13-14) participants focus on personal and academic preparedness for the journey through high school, the importance of giving back, and lessons learned through team-building initiatives.
LEAD (ages 15-16) participants perform community service, learn about ethical decision-making, develop leadership skills, and focus on college and career preparation.
SERVE (ages 17-18) is aimed at assisting teens with the post-high school transition into college, job training programs, or careers.
Evidence-Based Practice
Fiver believes strongly in basing program development on proven methods, not simply on good intentions.
After analyzing several years of data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System administered to Fiver teens, Fiver staff developed and implemented a new health curriculum focused on the health topics most relevant to Fiver teens.
Fiver is highly engaged in both internal and external evaluation and research efforts. Please contact the
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for copies of Fiver’s Three Year Evaluation Report or the recently completed research document, Science behind Fiver.
Our Kids
Fiver currently serves an amazing group of 500 children and teens. Approximately 85% of the children and families live in New York City with the majority centralized in the neighborhoods of Fiver’s community partners: Mott Haven, East Harlem, Harlem, Jackson Heights, Jamaica, East Elmhurst, Brownsville, Sunset Park, and East Flatbush.
The remaining participants live in rural Madison County within 30 miles of Fiver’s summer camp in Poolville, New York. Program participants are 41% Hispanic or Latino, 34% African-American, 15% Caucasian, 8% multi-racial, and 2% Asian.
Over 40% live in single parent homes and an additional 8% reside with other relatives or foster parents. All youth recruited into Fiver programs come from families eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Under these guidelines, a family of four must make less than $38,000 annually.
