Roots & Wings

Founded in 1999 by Irene DeGrandpre, a 2013 New Jersey Hero honoree, Roots & Wings began in Morris County as a community-based volunteer operation. The founders of Roots & Wings recognized that without adequate education, job training, and basic life skills, aged-out foster youth faced a much higher risk of homelessness, unemployment and incarceration than their peers. Armed with the mission to provide these young men and women with safe housing, education, counseling, and life skills, Roots & Wings volunteers established a residential program to empower these young people as they transition from foster care to independence. Our board members continually work to raise awareness of the issues impacting aged out foster youth in their ongoing effort to build support among community groups, foundations, corporations, and individuals. Roots & Wings continues to remain true to its original mission. Leveraging the experience and knowledge of professional staff, the dedication of trained mentors, and the personal investment of board members, combined with the financial backing of trustees, loyal individual donors, community businesses, private foundations, and faith-based organizations, Roots & Wings is able to realize outstanding outcomes for at risk youth.