The Whole Child Framework
We call our model for success the Whole Child Framework, which positively supports middle school children’s life experiences in the areas of academics, arts, sciences, athletics, health, and well-being.
At Hestia, we believe that the social and academic needs of successful children are mutually-dependent. That’s why a central tenet of The Whole Child Framework is access to strong sustained relationships with supportive adults who bring rich developmental experiences. We seek to fund programs that foster these relationships and promote empowered students.
Hestia’s support for our STEM Pathways for Girls program has been key to making sure that we can offer this opportunity to students year after year. We love Hestia’s mission because it supports work that is very dear to our hearts: making sure that middle school-age girls are nurtured and have the tools they need to realize their dreams in STEM education as they enter high school.
Santa Fe Hestia has been an integral partner of Cooking with Kids for many years. Hestia’s support has helped Cooking with Kids create and grow programming specifically tailored to the needs of middle schoolers. We are grateful to this dedicated group of women and their vision of success for middle school kids!
For nearly a decade I have worked with Hestia through my work at Solace Crisis Treatment Center. That relationship has become meaningful beyond just funding. The site visits and annual gatherings have given us the opportunity to connect with the Hestia members in a way that is rarely possible in a typical funding relationship. Those connections have shown me how deeply the Hestia members care about understanding and supporting the programs they fund.
It has been an amazing experience working with the Hestia Foundation as it has felt like a collaboration with a community of people who genuinely care about what they are doing. From the beginning Mary Sloane was available to answer all my questions to be sure we would be a good fit, being a young, grassroots, non-profit. We were not only welcomed but encouraged to apply as the foundation has made it their goal to support smaller and newer non-profits. I felt so welcomed going and speaking to the board about our organization. Even more amazing… a few board members are now volunteers with Free Flow. This is community! Thank you for the funding and we look forward to a relationship with you for many years.
Hestia Fund has been a generous partner, who has supported our teen programs. With their support we teach middle school youth how to walk on stilts, balance a plate or hang upside down from a trapeze. These Wise Foolian youth leave our classes more aware, a bit braver, and willing to become socially engaged.
Nuestra Jornada has helped me to know a lot of things. It helped me a lot dealing with my losses. I would cry taking about that, but now when I talk about it I’m more calm seeing I was not the only passing by hard times and I thank them for showing me I’m not alone. I’m so thankful for the funders of Nuestra Jornada.
The Sky Center/NMSIP is so grateful to Hestia Santa Fe for their generous funding of our Natural Helper program in eight Santa Fe middle schools. It is so inspiring to see middle school students excited to learn how to be the helpers in their school and to learn how to reach out to caring adults when they are concerned about a peer. Our Natural Helper program helps students learn how to champion kindness and inclusivity in their schools and to step forward as leaders. Now, more than ever, we are so glad to have Hestia Santa Fe partnering with us to support our youth in this life changing program.
Reading Quest’s relationship with Hestia has been incredibly valuable – providing us with resources that go directly to our tutoring programs working to improve the literacy skills of Middle School students across Santa Fe – to prepare them, not only with the tools to be able to succeed academically, but to be well rounded, curious, compassionate young adults with a passion for learning and growing.
Our partnership with Hestia has allowed Girls Inc. to maintain consistent support for middle school girls in Santa Fe throughout the last few turbulent years when having relationships with trusted adults is what our children need. Hestia’s Whole Child Framework and belief in the importance of healthy adult relationships for these girls aligns with Girls Inc.’s approach to programming and mentorship. Not only has Hestia provided us with funding, but this spring several Hestia members also joined girls at Ortiz Middle School for some Girls Inc fun.