The Princeton Area Community Foundation partnered with the Burke Foundation and the Smith Family Foundation to support Advocates of Children of New Jersey’s 2023 Trenton Kids Count report, which was released earlier this month.
The data tells us so much about the wellbeing of children in our capital city:
- The number of Trenton children living in poverty and extreme poverty decreased between 2016 and 2020, compared to 2011 to 2015, and the median income of families with children increased during the same time frame.
Yet, we still know that many families in the city are struggling.
- From 2016 to 2020, the median income for families with children in Trenton was $34,754, while the same figure for Mercer County was $108,877.
- During the same time frame, more than one third of the city’s children lived below the poverty line.
“This data tells us that there is an urgent need for all of us to work together to improve the lives of our children and families,” said Jeffrey M. Vega, President & CEO of the Community Foundation.
The report release event was hosted by the Smith Family Foundation and included discussion, moderated by Eleanor Horne, Community Foundation Trustee Emeritus, with panelists Dr. Rachael Evans, Chief Medical Officer at the Henry J. Austin Health Center in Trenton, Denise Kreiss, Parent Coordinator/Homeless Liaison for the Trenton School District, and state Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, D-15.
“Behind every number, there are hundreds, if not thousands of children,” Eleanor said. “It will take concerted action by the entire community to make the changes that our kids deserve.”
To read the full report, visit ACNJ’s website.
“At the Community Foundation, we believe that thriving philanthropy leads to thriving communities, and together, we must build on the work of this report, and work collaboratively to ensure that all our children thrive,” Jeff said.
To learn more about how you can help, reach out to our Philanthropic Services team at 609.219.1800.
