BELAFONTE FAMILY FOUNDATION INC

Programs

1. Tic talk space is a virtual safe space for tweens and teens exposed to bullying, abuse or other facilitators of depression, fear, and other mental health issues. The program includes weekly meetings with peer mentors in a gaming forum, mentors that are supported and trained by psychologists. Here the young people feel safe to talk about their week and subsequently their experiences and it becomes a focal point to hold on in their lives where many feel utterly alone, inferior, and some battle with suicidal thoughts. Many young people feel they cannot talk to their parents about their feelings of depression.continued on schedule o.sometimes parents are the catalysts of their fear and sometimes adults provoke an intimidation factor which is why this forum is run by peers who have had similar experiences. A psychologist is on call during meetings, and will periodically join the on-line forum. Additionally, the space has expanded to university students suffering from self harming thought and attempts. We support them, their families, and help financially those in need during holidays and hard times.

   $55,174 spent
   27% of program spending

2. Bright road mentoring programin keeping with a common thread of health and wellness throughout its programs, the belafonte family foundation's bright road mentoring program is designed to help young people find their way in a world that is, for many, a gauntlet of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Finding a baseline of stability is a critical piece of a young person's healthy development. Delivered through a martial arts-based curriculum, the initiative was created as an alternative path to a positive lifestyle for young people who have a great need to be part of a group, and often choose the wrong group simply because of this very real need for support from peers and elders, even if that choice puts them on a wrong path. --continued on schedule o.when practiced with commitment and consistency, the benefits of a martial arts lifestyle teaches commitment to self-discovery, acceptance, control, and respect for an enlightening way of life for those who live it. Bright road is a way to reach these young people before, during, and after they possibly engage in potentially negative life-altering behavior.

   $54,086 spent
   26% of program spending

3. The bright road martial arts scholarship sponsors qualifying at-risk-youth in martial arts mentorship programs across multiple disciplines, partnered with renowned academies and instructors. For the past three summers, we have brought our martial arts mentorship program to campers from underserved communities in the bronx. Martial arts as a lifestyle is an incredibly powerful way to find purpose and mental strength to become the best you can be for yourself and for others. It is much less about combat skills than about sense of self and mental survival skills. Continued on schedule o.commitment to a martial arts discipline can be a life changing experience that can become an integral lifestyle component especially for at risk youth who are longing for purpose, support systems and room for self discovery. Here they learn self control, self respect, rules of engagement, and engage in team oriented training. Martial arts requires that you push your limits resulting in great self discovery, increased focus on inner being and synchronization of the mind and body.

   $51,959 spentof which $10,050 as grants
   25% of program spending

4. Bright road farms (brf) is a new type of urban indoor farming initiative that will grow and supply locally grown greens and herbs to residents, schools, and those in need in underserved communities, food deserts, and areas with food insecurity via a state-of-the-art training curriculum and mobile, vertical production farms. Belafonte family foundation is designing a distributed farming network in cooperation with freight farms, inc. To deliver access to fresh food and increased food supply, building a sustainable way for people to grow food year-round in any climate anywhere. The bright road container farm initiative allows us to provide the infrastructure, training, and support needed to be successful in these sustainable and scalable growing projects. In collaboration with the nyc mayor's office bff is developing an extensive vertical farming initiative for the public school system in nyc. In addition food for thought is an innovative "farm to city to table" therapeutic experience designed specifically for young adults. This program seamlessly integrates culinary expertise with emotional well-being, fostering community-supported agricultural practices, culinary experience, and…

   $44,286 spent
   22% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2023 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $205,505.