Your Joy in Action: Every Dollar, Every Success Story.
Total Given Back to Date: $57,903 (and counting!)
We are proud to be a 100% volunteer-based organization. This means every dollar raised goes directly to two things: (a) funding impactful youth development programs, or (b) hosting the joyful events that raise more money for the kids.
We believe in full transparency. Here is a clear, human look at how your support is focused entirely on empowering youth through education and opportunity in Brooklyn and NYC.
Building Futures: Scholarships & Mentorship
$15,000 for the 2026 Joyful Futures Scholarship Awards, supporting amazing students Frances Auth, Yaritza Asencio, and Joemi Quiroz Ortiz.
$10,000 for the 2025 Joyful Futures Scholarship Awards, supporting amazing students James Walls and Jordyn Chambers.
$3,000 funded The Joyful Fellowship Program, giving $500 stipends to 6 local high school and college students who completed our 6-week course.
$2,000 to the Joyful Futures Scholarship Fund, providing two $1,000 scholarships to Jocelyn Salto and Karen Kong for college-related expenses.
$400 helped high school student Jodi Douglass cover costs for the 2024 NYC Teen Beauty Pageant, supporting her pursuit of confidence and community leadership.
Essential Support: Kits, Toys, and Direct Relief
$7,056 worth of toys, scarves and books (588 in total) provided to local residents, given away in collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum at their 6th annual Joy to the Borough event (490 items) and donated to youth services organization Graham Windham (98 items).
$5,518 spent on 336 backpack kits and 250 books given away in partnership with PS 93 ahead of the 2026 school year, supporting their efforts to improve first day attendance.
$3,234 was used to purchase 360 backpack kits. 144 went to the Committee on Special Education 5 and 216 went to the BronxWorks shelter.
$2,145 worth of toys (143 in total) gifted to Crown Heights residents and a local homeless shelter for our 2024 Toy Drive.
$330 covered the costs for our free Movie Day event, where we hosted families for a free screening of Disney's Wish during the holidays.
Camp Partnerships
$3,000 to The Game Over Hicks Family Foundation: $1,500 for 3 free coding classes and $1,500 for a week of free basketball camp for local kids.
$1,000 to Cardi Training to pay for a week of baseball training for a camper.
Community Outreach: Food Distribution
As of 2025, Joyful Occasions has strategically shifted its focus entirely to youth development and scholarships. We no longer conduct food distribution, but we honor the impact made in this area:
$2,870 to Neighbors Together, covering the costs of over 700 meals in Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant.
$1,050 to Mercy Bakery for 300 nutritious meals distributed to New Yorkers in need.
$800 helped C.H.I.P.S Food Bank cover 228 meals for their soup kitchen and women's shelter.
