Top 10 Community Highlights of 2024: A Year in Review
January 7, 2025
Watch our Celebrating 30 Years video
As 2024 unfolded, we celebrated a year of transformation, resilience, and community triumph. With every program, service, and event, we witnessed the power of collaboration to uplift lives and strengthen the fabric of our beloved Great Falls Neighborhood and our wider Paterson and Passaic County communities. This year, milestones were reached, dreams were realized, and new chapters were written — all fueled by an unwavering belief in Paterson’s limitless potential. As we reflect on these moments, we’re reminded that together, we can create a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Our work continued to grow as the need for our programs and services has increased. We’ve truly never been busier than we were in 2024 — our 30th anniversary year — when we were able to serve more than 4,000 children and families daily through our cradle-to-college pipeline of programs and services. Look no further than our staff size and annual budget trajectory for evidence of sustainable growth: Ten years into this journey, in 2004, our annual budget was just under $5 million. One decade later, in 2014, that figure more than doubled to $12.5 million; and by 2024, our annual budget grew to $17.4 million while employing 185 staff members, up from the 105 employees on our 2014 payroll!
In 2025, with the help of friends like you, we will continue to expand our programs and services to create even more opportunities for Paterson youth and families. As we embark on another decade of creating opportunities to transform lives, let’s look back on our Top 10 Community Highlights of 2024:
1. Shining Stars: Celebrating Our Award-Winning Team
At NJCDC, we’re honored to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our team members, whose dedication uplifts the Paterson community. Cristina Tone, a resilient Paterson resident and our Assistant Director of Community Outreach, was spotlighted during Governor Phil Murphy's State of the State Address for her unwavering determination and contributions to her community. David Gelman, our Chief Program Officer, was recognized with the Paterson Alliance's Extra Mile Award for his tireless efforts overseeing more than 20 youth development programs that provide leadership opportunities, academic support, arts enrichment, and more to Paterson’s young people year-round.
Our visionary Founder & CEO, Bob Guarasci, also received remarkable accolades for his enduring service. In October, Bob delivered an inspiring keynote address at Paterson’s Great Falls National Historical Park’s annual naturalization ceremony, celebrating the city’s immigrant heritage. At our 30th Anniversary Gala, Mayor Andre Sayegh presented Bob with the Key to the City for his three decades of transformative work. Additionally, Bob was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame as an “Unsung Hero,” a fitting tribute to his lifelong commitment to improving the lives of Paterson residents.
Together, these accomplishments reflect the passion and purpose that drive our work at NJCDC.
2. Youth Leadership in Action: The Paterson Youth Council
In 2024, our Paterson Youth Council (PYC) demonstrated its commitment to empowering young leaders through a series of impactful initiatives. The year began with the 18th Annual MLK Youth Recognition Awards, honoring individuals who embody Dr. King’s ideals of community and service. PYC members further honed their leadership skills through engaging activities such as a Mock Presidential Debate, Financial Literacy Day, and a City Council Candidate Forum, fostering informed civic participation and critical thinking. Their visit to BD offered insights into corporate innovation, broadening their career aspirations.
A significant milestone was achieved when former PYC President Christian Callegari joined NJCDC’s Board of Trustees, the first NJCDC alum to do so, showcasing the enduring impact of PYC’s programs. To celebrate these successes, the PYC hosted a heartwarming reunion for alumni to reconnect and reflect on their growth.
These youth leadership initiatives exemplify NJCDC’s dedication to cultivating Paterson’s next generation of changemakers.
3. Empowering Tomorrow: Youth Development on the Rise
In 2024, our youth programs empowered Paterson’s young leaders through innovative initiatives and creative expression. A key highlight was launching Paterson’s Youth Climate Action Fund, through which eight youth-led projects were each awarded $5,000 grants to implement transformative environmental projects, including pollinator gardens, water conservation efforts, and recycling campaigns.
In addition, our NJ4S Passaic County Hub celebrated its first anniversary with a summit focusing on youth mental health and wellness. The event brought together educators, community leaders, and students to share resources and foster collaboration, showcasing NJCDC’s leadership in addressing critical issues facing our youth. During the program’s first year, our NJ4S Passaic Hub has engaged and provided supportive services to more than 18,000 students and families throughout the county.
Our Great Falls Youth Center also experienced transformative growth, with the start of a $10 million expansion, including a new gymnasium. Additionally, youth center scholars demonstrated their creativity with the release of an original book and music video, while others interviewed Lt. Governor Tahesha Way on NJCDC’s podcast, The Loft, engaging in discussions about leadership and community service.
These youth empowerment initiatives exemplify NJCDC’s commitment to equipping Paterson’s young people with tools for a brighter future.
4. Dreams Within Reach: College-Bound Achievements
In 2024, we celebrated remarkable strides in college readiness and achievement for Paterson teens. The 10th Annual College Sendoff recognized underserved youth and students heading to four-year institutions, including Rutgers, Northeastern, and Montclair State, by distributing over $20,000 in scholarships to support their journeys. Other top achievers include students from our Great Falls Teen Center attending Dartmouth, Wesleyan, and University of Miami!
We also provided life-changing opportunities. At our annual Ivy League Tour, over 40 students visited Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, learning about admissions and campus life. The Washington D.C. trip brought history to life, as teens explored national landmarks, museums, and government institutions. Closer to home, a vibrant college fair at William Paterson University connected students to representatives from 200+ colleges, expanding their academic horizons. Through these efforts, NJCDC continues to prepare Paterson’s youth for success.
5. Building Stronger Neighborhoods: Community Revitalization Efforts
In 2024, we strengthened community engagement in Paterson’s Great Falls Neighborhood, inspiring residents and fostering connections to build a brighter future. Our Neighborhood Help Center, for example, continued to expand its reach, with over 2,500 residents accessing vital resources and a growing online community group of more than 1,000 neighbors across 25 groups, united in shared purpose and collaboration.
At our annual Great Falls Neighborhood Summit, residents and leaders explored bold revitalization plans, from expanding the Great Falls Youth Center to reimagining Westside Park. Furthermore, our inaugural distribution of $10,000 in micro-grants will empower residents to lead transformative projects, including fresh food sustainability programs, mental health workshops, and youth arts initiatives, fueling creativity and resilience within the neighborhood.
In our largest turnout yet, with more than 1,300 neighborhood residents in attendance, we celebrated unity and joy at our 10th Annual Block Party. We also partnered with the Reinvestment Fund to host a Community Development Convening, showcasing Paterson as a hub of innovation and collaboration.
Together, these efforts embody our commitment to uplifting and empowering our community, one project at a time.
6. Women Leading the Way: Stories of Empowerment
In 2024, we recognized the women that power our community efforts through transformative programs and events. At our Paterson Family Center’s Women's Empowerment Luncheon, we honored 9 incredible women, including Paterson’s First Lady Farhanna Balgahoom Sayegh, NJCDC staff members, and PFC parents who are also entrepreneurs. This event brought together women from our community to share their inspiring stories of resilience and empowerment, showcasing the strength and versatility of women in Paterson. Similarly, our Community Charter School of Paterson hosted an inspiring event to celebrate Women’s History Month in March, where students and community members joined forces to uplift and support each other.
Adding to this momentum, our Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) witnessed a life-changing milestone when a client, after diligent financial coaching and support, proudly purchased her first home. She wasn’t the only one who benefitted, as 2024 saw our FEC provide over 1,800 financial counseling sessions, which has helped our clients reduce their debt by $2 million and increase their savings by $1 million!
These initiatives symbolize hope, opportunity, and the limitless potential of women in Paterson, driving forward our mission to build stronger, empowered communities.
7. Inspiring Futures: Early Childhood Impact
In 2024, our early-in-the-pipeline initiatives continued to make a lasting impact in Paterson, fostering creativity, education, and community engagement for our Great Falls Neighborhood’s younger children. At our Paterson Family Center (PFC) preschool, for instance, the PSEG Foundation and Sesame Workshop launched the Little Neighbors program, featuring the beloved character Elmo to promote kindness and resilience among preschoolers. Additionally, a generous bookbag donation equipped students with essentials for academic success, ensuring every child started the school year with confidence.
Over at the Neighborhood Help Center, Soccer Saturdays brought young athletes together for fun, teamwork, and sportsmanship, strengthening both skills and community bonds.
Art programs flourished this year, encouraging children to express themselves creatively through visual art, dance, and music projects, showcasing their talent and unique perspectives.
And, at the Community Charter School of Paterson (CCSP), engaging cultural and seasonal events enriched students' lives, including vibrant Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, a playful Wild West Fall Fest, and the magical Willy Wonka Holiday Festival, which delighted families and highlighted the importance of joy and imagination. To the delight of students, CCSP also had a historic day in December when it began holding its first-ever French class!
These initiatives reflect our commitment to nurturing Paterson's youngest residents, ensuring they grow into inspired, well-rounded individuals ready to make a difference.
8. Housing with Heart: Transforming Lives through Stability
In 2024, we made remarkable strides in providing safe, affordable, and empowering housing for Paterson residents. Timothy Royster, for one, a resident of our Hawthorne Heights supportive housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, celebrated his high school graduation, exemplifying the transformational impact of stable housing on personal growth. In addition, Barclay Place Apartments, which provides affordable and supportive housing just steps from St. Joseph’s Hospital, marked its one-year anniversary and earned the Urban Land Institute Northern NJ's Affordable Housing Excellence Award, reflecting its outstanding design and community impact.
The year also saw heartwarming moments like Nataly and her family moving into their new home, offering stability during the holiday season. Young men in our transitional housing programs at Independence House gained confidence through initiatives like canoeing trips and receiving professional attire. Additionally, we expanded our environmental efforts, addressing lead contamination to ensure safer homes for local families.
These efforts underscore our dedication to creating housing opportunities that empower residents and foster thriving communities.
9. A Culture of Service: Giving Back to Paterson
In 2024, our service events and initiatives radiated hope, resilience, and the transformative power of action. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of NJCDC’s AmeriCorps program, alumni gathered in our first such reunion to reflect on years of transformative service impacting thousands of lives. On the National Day of Service in remembrance of 9/11, AmeriCorps members and AvalonBay Communities volunteers came together to honor the lives lost. Through heartfelt acts like community beautification and neighborhood restoration, they turned a day of reflection into one of unity, demonstrating the enduring power of service to heal and uplift.
Our Junior YouthBuild summer program inspired a new generation of changemakers, empowering Paterson teens with hands-on opportunities to rebuild and revitalize their community. Participants gained invaluable skills, confidence, and a profound sense of purpose as they tackled real-world challenges to better their neighborhoods.
During the holiday season, we spread unparalleled joy through our 31st Annual Holiday Toy Drive & Party, brightening the lives of over 1,600 Paterson children with over 7,000 gifts. The event was a magical celebration filled with laughter, gifts, and shared love, ensuring every child felt seen, valued, and cherished during the most wonderful time of the year. Additionally, food distributions through our Neighborhood Help Center and Paterson Youth Council ensured families had essentials during the holidays.
10. Thirty Years of Hope: Celebrating Our Legacy and Future
In 2024, we celebrated our 30th anniversary with a series of special events that united and inspired the Paterson community. October’s 30th Anniversary Gala stood as a centerpiece of the celebrations, bringing together over 400 supporters to honor NJCDC’s legacy. Earlier, on the anniversary of our inception, March 11, the celebrations kicked off with the unveiling of our new website, highlighting three decades of transformative impact.
Spring featured the Casino Night fundraiser and Read Across America Day festivities, promoting education and opportunity. The summer brought our supporters to the greens for the 16th Annual Golf Outing and to the stands for a celebratory NJ Jackals baseball game at Hinchliffe Stadium.
The year concluded with heartfelt recognition by the Paterson City Council during an incredible intimate gathering of supporters and partners at our Friends Breakfast, while the Lou Costello Park Tree Lighting Ceremony capped off the year with holiday cheer — both reinforcing the organization’s deep roots in the community.
From joyful community gatherings to heartfelt recognitions, these events underscored our unwavering dedication to creating opportunities and hope for Paterson residents over the past three decades.
Looking Ahead
2024 was a testament to what can be achieved when passion meets purpose. Together with our incredible staff, community partners, and supporters, we continued to transform challenges into opportunities, bringing hope to every corner of Paterson. As we close this remarkable year, we’re filled with gratitude for the progress we’ve made and inspired by the promise of what’s yet to come. With unity and determination, we step into the future, committed to creating lasting change for the community we’re proud to serve.