Which GlassRoots Do You Know?

You’ve been a friend of GlassRoots, and yet, I’m wondering, which GlassRoots are you familiar with?  There are so many facets to our work. 
 
Is it the GlassRoots that

• offered eye-opening, engaging field trips to 82 schools last school year?
• teaches the concepts and skills of business and entrepreneurship to hard-to-reach high school students?
• taught graduate Devon Houston, “that once you hone your talents and take pride in them, you will see all the avenues where you can use them to bring value to the world.”
• is only the 4th location in the world to teach Scientific Glassblowing, and uniquely, works with disengaged young adults?
• started the Bead Shop, a craft entrepreneurship program that will give young women business skills as well as a community?
• Sarina Vail credits with helping her decide, “to continue to work with glass in my future, and strive to turn that passion into my career?”
• earns income by making stunning awards for regional corporations and nonprofits?
• offers amazing glass art classes in the evenings and weekends for those rediscovering their inner artists?
• inspired a local renovator to support us by commissioning a large mosaic for his private home, one so significant it was featured in New Jersey Designs Magazine?
• makes beautiful gifts for all occasions in its Newark-based glass art studios?

Some of our best friends don’t realize that at GlassRoots we do all of this and more. 

You’ve been a friend, and now we’re asking if you’ll also be a supporter.  

​In our tiny facility at 10 Bleeker Street, transformation happens. Your gifts will help us reach many more students like Dion Ross and Jaevon Valentine who went through our program several years ago.  Now as young adults with good jobs, they look back at their experience and say: 
 
“For us, GlassRoots was more than a creative outlet or “afterschool program.” GlassRoots offered positive outlets for fellow young Newarkers who, like us, wanted a chance to make it as independent and confident adults. The contacts we made at GlassRoots became lifelong friendships.

GlassRoots taught us how to express ourselves and our experiences through glassblowing and other glass art. Perhaps, most importantly, GlassRoots was, and still is, led by great role models and creative individuals who empowered us to become the adults we are today.” 

We take pride in what we do.  And we hope you take pride in supporting the opportunities and change offered. You should! Without your personal contributions, little of this would be possible.
 
Our Annual Fund underwrites the field trips and classes for 960 students so far this year who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to explore the magic within our doors.  It buys the glass and heats the studios where our young entrepreneurs and academics hone critical learning and life skills.  It pays the rent and upkeep of a facility-dependent organization, where our shops are the vehicle for this transformation. And it pays the salaries of the amazing teaching and professional staff that make all of this happen.
 
So now, we ask you to help us make a difference in the lives of young people with a generous gift to our Annual Fund. Please say yes and make your gift today, either on line at www.glassroots.org or by check in the envelope enclosed. Thank you.
 
With our very best wishes,
 
Barbara Heisler,
Executive Director

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