About the Youth Foundation of Jersey City

The newly formed Youth Foundation of Jersey City was forged in friendship and common goals in the beginning of this decade! The foundation has a clear vision to help the youth in Jersey City as they navigate the challenges of today and their high hopes for a better tomorrow. 

In early 2020. Paul Silverman and Veronica Park met for breakfast in their beloved city and decided it was time to bring their nonprofits together, form a new board and continue to evolve our ability and desire to help elevate the kids in Jersey City. Little did they know it would turn out to be a year of great challenges and need for children and their families, not only in Jersey City but in the whole nation. 

Veronica Park began The Jersey City Youth Foundation in 2013; her mission was to bring our community of 66 different ethnicities together to provide equal access to all things educational, including academics, sports, arts, and adventure. Concurrently, Paul Silverman began his own foundation, the Jersey City Fund for Equity and Excellence, with a similar mission that focused on uplifting the young people of Jersey City and providing opportunities for growth, education, and recreation. 

YFoJC Chairperson, Paul Silverman, and YFoJC Vice-Chairperson Veronica Park forged a friendship around the redevelopment of Hamilton Park and a shared desire to create a vibrant, modern neighborhood. They found a common mission in making Jersey City a better home for everyone, but especially for the young people of the community. 

The Jersey City Youth Foundation is the product of a deep love for our community, a friendship that has spanned two decades, and a strong desire to create vibrant, positive experiences for the children of Jersey City.