Success Stories

FROM ADDICTION AND PRISON TO GRADUATE SCHOOL I learned the struggle of addiction early on. It felt like it was my family’s curse. My father was an IV drug user and eventually, it killed him around age 31. One of my brothers started using heroin at age 11. Another brother …Read More

Supporters like you make these life-changing opportunities to New Yorkers possible. Watch ACE Grad's success stories now.Read More

You Actually Saved Lives Friends and Partners, The World Health Organization reported a 30% increase in overdose deaths in 2021. As Americans worked to combat COVID, another crisis surged – mental health. Grief, hopelessness, isolation, and the fraying of social networks took a devastating toll on the most vulnerable in …Read More

William has faced and overcome incredible challenges. He found himself alone, living on the subway platform and contemplating a bleak set of options. The small gestures and kindness of strangers like you, however, gave him enough hope to seek help, and he eventually found his way to ACE to accelerate …Read More

You Offered Consistency to the Most Vulnerable Dear Friends, As New York reopens, we want to thank you for providing a consistent support system for ACE participants and graduates. These men and women have already faced unthinkable hardship. In the past, they had to ask themselves, ‘Where am I sleeping …Read More

Danielle and Cory have fought so hard to overcome addiction and homelessness. They are focused on reaching their goals and being the best parents they can be to their daughter. Their story is an unlikely success story of a husband and wife who were able to rebuild their life and …Read More

Akin has overcome so much to reach his goals. He is an incredible father and husband, and he continues to fight for his family everyday. Watch his story and make a life changing gift today.Read More

Since 1992, ACE has been on New York City’s front lines helping individuals impacted by homelessness secure employment, achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency, and reunite with their families. Seventy-seven percent of the individuals who come to ACE are men and women of color. Homelessness impacts black and brown individuals in this …Read More

With your partnership, we are responding by connecting participants and graduates with work opportunities, providing direct financial assistance to ensure they can pay their rent and utilities, and providing the proper personal protective equipment. ACE is also on the front lines meeting the needs of the city at large, partnering …Read More

Jeffrey graduated ACE in 2019. His incredible comeback has resulted in full-time employment and renewed relationships with his family and loved ones. There are 60,000 men and women who will spend the holidays in shelters and thousands more on the streets. Right now, there is a waiting list to enter …Read More

Dontavis graduated ACE in 2019. His incredible comeback has resulted in full-time employment and renewed relationships with his family. There are 60,000 men and women who will spend the holidays in shelters and thousands more on the streets. Right now, there is a waiting list to enter ACE’s program, but …Read More

Earl came to ACE in 2018 and secured full-time employment that same year. His story is now featured in the New York Times as part of New York’s Neediest Campaign. Read his moving and inspiring story “Alcohol Was His Escape, Now He’s Living on His Own Terms” here – https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/13/neediest-cases/alcoholism-sobriety-journalism.htmlRead More

I was born and raised near Coney Island. That neighborhood was all I knew for most of my life. My father left when I was six and my life at home instantly changed. My mother became the sole provider for my three younger sisters and me. As a seamstress, she …Read More

As a kid, my parents were a little on in years. I have four brothers and two sisters, but they are older than me and were out of the house by the time I was born. As a kid, I played basketball, football, and baseball. My friends and I would …Read More

“Today, I am part of society. I’m part of my community. I wake up in the morning and go to work. I’ve run two marathons in the last year and I’ll be running my third in November. Most important, my daughter is so proud of me. When I see that, …Read More

“I am here today, strong, and I have a lot of things I am grateful for. My granddaughter is two years old and she looks at me like I’m someone important now. My future is looking real bright.” – Darrell, ACE GraduateRead More

Erik’s Success Story – Becoming the Father I Was Meant to Be Erik was sent to Rikers Island Jail for 10 months when he was just 14 years old. He has overcome incredible obstacles to become the father he is today. Your support makes life-changing successes possible. Please join us …Read More

Larry has worked extremely hard to overcome barriers of homelessness, incarceration and addiction. In 2017, he came to ACE to participate in Project Comeback, ACE’s job-readiness training and placement program. He graduated from Project Comeback in December 2017 and has remained in touch with ACE’s employment retention program, Project Stay. …Read More