I Am Trenton Community Foundation (IAT) is proud to announce a total of $110,000 awarded to 18 innovative projects across the city through its 2025 Citywide Grants program. These projects uplift community voices and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through arts, education, mentorship, public safety, cultural preservation, and healing.

This year’s awards bring I Am Trenton closer to reaching its $1 million milestone in total grants distributed since its founding in 2007. The foundation expects to meet this goal in 2026, marking a significant moment for community-driven philanthropy in Trenton.

“Trenton’s greatest strength has always been its people — the dreamers, the doers, the neighbors who care enough to make a difference,” said Marelyn Rivera, Co-President of I Am Trenton Community Foundation. “Each of these projects is a reflection of that spirit — bold, creative, and rooted in love for this city. When we invest in one another, we don’t just improve Trenton — we transform it.”

“Our grantees represent what happens when neighbors step up to shape the community they want to see,” added Michelle Ruess, Co-President of I Am Trenton Community Foundation. “From youth programs to arts, health, and storytelling, their work is helping Trenton thrive in ways that are meaningful and lasting.”

“Each year we see the incredible range of ideas and energy that exist in our neighborhoods,” said Regina Podhorin-Zilinski, Grant Committee Chair. “The projects selected this year show how local leadership and creativity can truly transform our city — one block, one story, and one connection at a time.”

“Every donation, no matter the size, helps fuel these incredible ideas into action,” said Caitlin Fair, representing I Am Trenton Community Foundation. “When people give locally, they’re not just funding projects — they’re investing in their neighbors, their neighborhoods, and the shared future of our city.”

To celebrate this year’s grantees, I Am Trenton will host a community check ceremony on Tuesday, November 12, at 6:00 p.m. at One Mill. The event is open to members of the press are warmly invited to attend.

2025 Citywide Grant Recipients:

Casa Cultura – Community Arts & Latino Oral History Project: Promoting artistic expression and cultural preservation through a rotating artist residency and documentary film capturing the stories of Latino residents, fostering empathy, connection, and shared identity.

East Trenton Collaborative (FS: UrbanPromise Trenton) – Slow the Curve! Mulberry Street: Improving traffic safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians through community-driven street design to ensure safe and equitable transportation access.

Emiija’s Hope Center – Project Hope: Empowering Trenton youth and families with mentorship, wraparound care, and access to resources that promote inclusion and positive role models.

First Presbyterian Church of Trenton – 4Keys Yoga: Offering free public yoga and meditation in Downtown Trenton to support healing, self-care, and community wellness.

Guatemalan Civic Association of Mercer County – Celebrating Motherhood Citywide!
Honoring mothers through a festive citywide gathering with food, music, dancing, and resources to build community connection.

Richard Hutchinson (FS: Isles) – Made In Trenton: A Youth Legacy Project: Launching young entrepreneurs (ages 15–21) to create their own brands, build wealth, and cultivate lasting community pride.

Kellie C. Murphy – Candlelight Events Jazz & More: Expanding access to live jazz beyond bars through free and family-friendly events that celebrate culture, creativity, and music education.

Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) – Tackling Transportation Access: Providing transportation for Trenton High School students in the FUTURO program to visit colleges, reducing barriers to higher education access.

Men For H.O.P.E. – Youth Leaders in Training: Supporting peer mentors who teach carpentry, leadership, and goal-setting to younger participants, creating cycles of empowerment.

Neighborhood Improvement Association – Trifecta for Truth: Leading a free intergenerational trip to Washington, D.C., focused on Black history, education, and community connection.

Old Barracks Association – Spanish Translations for Museum Events, Programs, and Marketing: Hiring a Spanish translator to expand access and inclusion in Trenton’s historic programming.

Play Soccer Nonprofit International – Play Soccer Trenton 2026 World Cup Festival: 

A large-scale community festival combining soccer, culture, and health education for 2,500+ participants ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Puerto Rican Community Center – Family Care Kits: Providing essential care kits with hygiene, bedding, and food supplies to promote dignity and well-being for Trenton families.

The Dads Foundation – Fathers for Trans Futures: A Weekend of Healing, Storytelling & Solidarity: Uplifting Black and Brown fathers of transgender and nonbinary youth through a weekend of dialogue, film, and healing-centered workshops.

Trenton Community A-Team – Little Homes, Big Pride: A hands-on art initiative inviting children to design and paint birdhouses, promoting creativity, pride, and neighborhood unity.

Trenton Pride Center – Mental Health Mutual Aid: Launching a program to connect LGBTQ residents to affirming mental health providers, ensuring access to care and community support.

Trenton Sk8s (Jaclyn Duncan) – Trenton Sk8s: Hosting free skate events, classes, and workshops that celebrate movement, inclusion, and healthy fun for skaters of all ages.

Visionary Philanthropy Group Inc. – Girls Who Code: Empowering 15 Trenton girls with free, high-quality coding education and entrepreneurial skill-building to bridge the digital divide.

About I Am Trenton

Founded in 2007 by Trentonians for Trentonians, I Am Trenton Community Foundation invests directly in resident-led projects that build pride, creativity, and resilience across the city. The foundation’s Citywide Grants are made possible by organizational & individual donations to I Am Trenton.