Meet our Aerie Real Foundation Community Grant Winners!

Adaptive Fitness Legion (AFL) is a non-profit based in Fairfax, VA that provides free adaptive fitness programming for anyone with a physical disability. Our mission is to empower all abilities through adaptive fitness education and training by providing no-cost workout programs to individuals living with disabilities. AFL’s Adaptive Boxing Club will build confidence and foster inclusion by bringing the sport of boxing to the disabled community. The confidence the women in our programming show is incredible and is helping pave the way for a new adapted sport that everyone can participate in regardless of physical ability.

Founded in 1998, Art Sphere Inc. is a non-profit organization with a mission to engage the creative in youth, empower neighborhoods to explore the positives in peoples’ lives, and heal the mind, body and spirit through the arts. ASI embraces the strengths of youth and their communities in Philadelphia’s inner city and builds safe and rich learning environments with an emphasis on the creative use of local resources. Free site-specific Art Workshops, community events and online resources help students gain confidence in their worth, explore new ideas and build positive self-images, while learning about art and artists.

AZIZA PE&CE, INC. (AP) empowers Baltimore’s youth, especially Black and Hispanic females and LGBTQ+ individuals, through holistic, culturally relevant programs that promote mental and emotional well-being. Our programming includes after-school enrichment, summer camps, mentorship, and access to social services, designed to improve confidence, resilience, and community building. This funding will enhance our offerings, particularly in creative arts therapy and life skills training, fostering a more inclusive community where young women feel supported in their personal, academic growth, and professional growth, and empowered to thrive despite systemic barriers.

At Beverly’s PGH, our mission is to celebrate and strengthen families in Southwestern PA Through our three distinct divisions–birthdays, babies, and basic care–we strive to be a reliable resource provider for thousands of families annually. Our goal is to empower families and help them thrive by using celebration as a vehicle to create positive social-emotional experiences, provide resource connectivity, and help support basic material goods.

Cinnamongirl Inc. ignites the greatness within girls of color, fostering a sisterhood where they can reach their fullest potential. We believe confidence isn’t just about feeling good, it’s about doing hard things. Our programs center on mentorship, travel, writing, and reading that provide transformative experiences that stretch girls’ abilities and unlock unwavering self-belief. With the generous support of the Aerie Real Foundation, we’re expanding our “Write Your Story” program. This empowers young women to become published authors, amplifying their voices and building the academic confidence they need to thrive. Together, we’re empowering girls to write their own brilliant futures.

Film Pittsburgh’s Teen Screen is a free educational experience that nurtures in young people community-changing values such as diversity, inclusion, and protecting our planet through the dynamic and engaging medium of film. Since 2005, more than 140,000 students and teachers have joined together in movie theaters and classrooms to watch and discuss movies of historical, cultural, and social significance—and they have walked away changed forever. As one student said after seeing a film, “Watching this will definitely have a profound impact on the way I view the world.” And another said, “Hate speaks volumes, so we need our love to be even louder.”

GirlCon‘s mission is to encourage high school students identifying as female/non-binary to fearlessly pursue their goals and passion for technology. With this event, we display female role models in an array of fields while giving girls resources to develop the technical skills needed to overcome adversity and bridge the gender gap in technology. GirlCon brings together keynote speakers, interactive workshops, and professional development sessions designed to provide girls with long-lasting empowerment in the STEM field. With Aerie Foundation’s grant, Aerie will be promoted throughout our event and displayed to girls interested in pursuing a career in this field.

Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas is dedicated to assisting low-income single-mom families as the mother attains a college education, gains financial independence, and creates a positive family legacy. This funding will have an impact through a variety of comprehensive services which include building an inclusive community of love and support, professional life skills training, a financial stipend, auto repair, AAA membership, dental care, and memorable family outings. We are breaking the cycle of generational poverty by empowering single mothers to become confident professional women who elevate their families and communities while shaping brighter futures for generations to come.

Maydm works in Dane County, Wisconsin, to help girls and youth of color in middle and high school gain STEM skills, experiences, and connections by partnering with schools, corporations, and community partners to provide education and employment to bridge the wealth gap and increase representation in STEM careers. Our girls’ program pathway fosters confidence and inclusivity by providing girls with a welcoming environment to prepare girls for a career in STEM. We prioritize community-building and respect, enhancing the inclusive environment. We integrate sustainability education into our program curriculum as work to continue to think of ways to protect our planet.

The mission of the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust is to preserve and enhance the quality of life for all people through the permanent protection of land. NWALT has permanently conserved 8,000 acres in Northwest Arkansas and owns and stewards 2,000 acres of nature preserves for wildlife, water quality protection, and outdoor recreation. Funding from Aerie Real Foundation will allow NWALT to hire seasonal interns who will work alongside Land Trust staff in stewarding native habitats and maintaining public access to nature, ensuring native habitats and access are protected for generations to come.

Register Her is a national, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to register and activate women to vote, especially young women (ages 18-34) and women in underrepresented communities. Aerie Foundation funding will be put to work funding women who have been selected to organize in their communities as Register Her Fellows. These women are primarily WOC who are already embedded in community-based organizations that have trusted reputations and relationships within their community. Our Fellows engage in women-focused outreach to create a women-centered, women-led ecosystem for civic education and voter participation. We believe diverse, inclusive representation is a core ingredient of a robust democracy.

Strong Women, Strong Girls (SWSG) is a multigenerational mentorship organization that connects hundreds of girls with caring mentors. SWSG’s mission is to champion the aspirations and potential of girls through innovative mentorship experiences grounded in the lessons of strong women-identifying role models. Girls in grades 3-5, who are primarily from under-resourced neighborhoods, attend weekly, curriculum-guided mentoring sessions with college women mentors. At the same time, our College Mentors build relationships with professional women mentors, known as Strong Leaders, creating a sustainable future for the next generation of female leaders.

The Cycle Effect is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that uses the bike as a catalyst to mentor young women and promote physical and mental wellbeing, confidence, community engagement, leadership skills and fun outside through our mountain bike mentorship program. The Cycle Effect eliminates barriers to access by providing transportation, bikes, bilingual coaching and low-cost out of school programming. As a champion of equity and inclusion, The Cycle Effect serves female-identifying and non-binary participants, and reserves resources for those who identify as Latina, BIPOC and low-income while prioritizing participants with self-identified risk factors that include bullying and social emotional challenges.

Founded in 1995 by award-winning Latina playwright Karen Zacarías, Young Playwrights’ Theater (YPT) inspires young people to realize the power of their own voices. Because everyone deserves high-quality theater education that centers their voices, YPT provides inspiration, tools, and opportunities for young and emerging artists to develop and share their stories. We prioritize young people who are targeted by systems of oppression, and we also collaborate with people of all ages who are invested in the ways in which theater can transform lives and communities. We believe that young people are inherently brilliant, and we exist to share their brilliance with the world.

SFAH is a nonprofit residential center offering summer camp and year-round programs for youth with physical disabilities. Our mission is to provide an enriching, recreational and educational experience; helping participants develop physically, emotionally, and educationally, with the goal of fostering self-esteem, maturity and independence. The Home Away from Home program focuses on our alumni population and aims to provide them with the tools and resources they need to reach their personal goals. Each year, 10 alumni who will benefit from sustained life skill programs are identified. SFAH works with this group by providing a series of tailored actions and undertakings.

Take Back The Night Foundation is the oldest and largest international organization working to end all forms of sexual violence and to support survivors in their healing journeys. 567-SHATTER is a free national legal hotline run by TBTN for survivors of sexual violence to access a reputable legal team confidentially. The hotline is staffed 24/7 by trauma-informed legal experts specializing in victim advocacy to best support survivors. The funding provided by Aerie Real Foundation will build confidence in women and support an inclusive community by helping survivors seeking guidance on reporting, pursuing legal action, or understanding their rights.

The Unbreakable Organization is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities affected by gun violence. Our mission revolves around providing mental health support for students impacted by these tragedies. Through a mental health task force consisting of licensed professionals and trauma experts, we offer free resources, scholarships, and online workshops. Our goal is to ensure that students understand they are not alone. Our mindful and mission-driven initiatives, such as online book clubs, journaling sessions, and wellbeing check-ins, promote healing and resilience in the wake of gun violence-related tragedies. The funds will be used to support various aspects of our program focused on addressing the mental health effects of gun violence, all while cultivating a supportive community for recovery and healing.