The New York Public Library has received a $10 million gift from The Gottesman Fund to strengthen youth education programs in the Bronx. The new funding will support NYPL After School in the borough, along with early literacy programming and community outreach. With this latest gift, The Gottesman Fund’s total investment in Bronx libraries rises to $15 million since 2021.
The Bronx has some of the steepest opportunity gaps, with over 36% of children living below the poverty line. This grant will support NYPL After School programming in 22 branches in high-need neighborhoods in the Bronx, addressing the lack of accessible quality after-school enrichment for children in low-income households.
NYPL After School, which is part of the Library’s Tisch Youth Education Programs, is a free after-school drop-in initiative that runs Monday to Thursday when school is in session. Serving kids 6 to 12 years old, NYPL After School provides thousands of students with homework and reading support, and structured enrichment in trusted neighborhood libraries. It offers a flexible and nimble model, equally accessible to a child who may need homework help a few days during the school year or to a child who may greatly benefit from ongoing support.
Starting September 29, 2025, NYPL After School will kick off its programming for the 2025-2026 school year at 52 NYPL branches, including 22 in the Bronx supported by this gift.
Each NYPL After School site has experienced tutors, including paid Teen Reading Ambassadors, to help children build their confidence in their ability to complete their homework independently and instill a positive attitude toward reading and learning. Teen Reading Ambassadors serve as mentors to the younger children by reading together, discussing stories, and participating in educational activities. In turn, teens gain experience in teaching and community service, thus engaging their personal and professional growth.
“The Gottesman Fund has a long-standing commitment to education, literacy, and advancing opportunities for young people, with a particular focus on the Bronx. We are proud to partner once again with The New York Public Library, and thrilled to see these programs come to life as we start the school year,” said Ruth L. Gottesman, President of The Gottesman Fund.
“NYPL After School offers children a safe, welcoming place to do homework, read, and build confidence outside the classroom,” said Brian Bannon, Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education at The New York Public Library. “We are deeply grateful to The Gottesman Fund for its vision and partnership, which will ensure Bronx families continue to benefit from this vital program. When every child has a place to do homework and learn, we narrow the opportunity gap.”
Last year, attendance at NYPL After School in the Bronx grew by 26%—a surge that reflects the citywide demand for accessible homework support. For the full list of participating libraries, please visit nypl.org/afterschool.
The gift will also support the Library’s Caregiver Conversation series and Little Learners Programs in the Bronx. Caregiver Conversations connects new parents with child development experts and children’s librarians, leveraging established partnerships with pediatric clinics, community health centers, and the Bronx doula network. Little Learners is an eight-week series offered each fall and spring that uses music, movement, and multilingual fun to deepen cultural connections to literacy and reading in both native language and new languages.
All together, NYPL’s education programming makes it the largest free education provider outside the public school system in New York City. The overarching goal is fun and educational programming designed to introduce young people to the joys of learning and libraries.
This year, for the back to school season, all NYPL locations began distributing backpacks filled with school supplies on August 18, prioritizing outreach to kids and teens from historically under-resourced communities. Distribution continues while supplies last. Patrons can pick up backpacks by signing up for a library card, checking out two books, or completing a scavenger hunt during Library Open House Week, which will kick off on September 15, 2025, and run through September 21, 2025.
About The New York Public Library
For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.
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