Lawrenceville’s Community Reach Out Club Donates $20K to HomeWorks Trenton

Olivia Codjoe '26 and Joey Vermut '25, co-presidents of Lawrenceville’s Community Reach Out club, recently delivered a $20,000 check on behalf of the group to HomeWorks Trenton, a free, community-based, after-school residential program equipping the next generation of community leaders and embracing the goal of "changing the world, one girl at a time.”

Codjoe and Vermut, along with Mia Masserio '25, lead the club, which researches local non-profits, solicits and reviews grant proposals, and awards a donation. Club members met throughout the year to decide what issue they wished to support and agreed upon supporting children and youth in Mercer County, N.J.  They next researched local agencies that offer support, sent out requests for grant proposals, and interviewed two finalists, ultimately deciding upon HomeWorks.

The funding, provided by Bridge Stuart ’66, will be used directly for the HomeWorks Trenton 2025-26 after-school residential program. According to HomeWorks Co-Founder/Executive Director Natalie Tung ‘14, the program provides approximately 180 days of dorm living, 360 transportation trips to and from school, 360 healthy meals, 240 hours of tutoring, as well as 30 hours of counseling per scholar, plus 360 hours of programming on academics, identity-driven leadership, and field trips.

“Our HomeWorks model was inspired by my Kirby House experience at Lawrenceville, so to be granted this funding from the Community Reach Out club means a lot,” said Tung. “We are grateful and excited to use the funding towards our program this spring, where our scholars are working on math and English fundamentals, create their own capstone projects based on our social justice curriculum, learn about healthy relationships, go horse-riding and more.”

Codjoe cited Tung's mission to make the HomeWorks program accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances, as a key factor in the club's decision to support it.

“Our connection to this organization became even more meaningful when we had the opportunity to speak with a few parents whose children benefit directly from HomeWorks’ support,” Cudjoe said. “Hearing their stories—how HomeWorks gave their kids a sense of stability, educational opportunity, and hope—made the impact incredibly real and personal.”

With this donation, she explained, “We are able to support a newer non-profit aiming to lift up families within our own community and give these children a fair chance to thrive. Therefore, we were moved by the power of what they’re doing."

For additional information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.