Grant Request Christodora
Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form
Organization Name: Christodora
Legal Name (if Different): Christodora, Inc
Also Known As: Manice Education Center
Mailing Address: 1 East 53rd Street
City: New York
State: NY
Postal Code: 10022
Main Phone: 2123715225
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.christodora.org
Employer ID Number: 13-5562192
Organization Tax Status: 501 (c)(3)
Proposal Information
Today’s Date: 2/13/2026
Requested Amount: $10,000
Project Title: Camperships for NYC Youth from Under-resourced Communities
Project Description:
Christodora requests funding from the Hermanowski Foundation to provide scholarships for New York City youth to attend summer sleepaway camp at our Manice Education Center (MEC) in rural Massachusetts. At MEC, city youth encounter nature in ways they never have before. The Manice campus is set within 150 acres of private forest, rolling hills, ponds, waterfalls, and an extensive trail network. Each year, nearly 800 middle and high school students visit Manice, many of whom return each summer to build confidence through our backcountry programs. All participants come from low-income communities in New York City. The total tuition for summer camp is $2,400, of which Christodora typically provides about $2,000 in sliding-scale scholarships. We are requesting a $10,000 grant to fund 5 camp scholarships for our youth.
The Manice Center maintains the following goals for our students: (1) Introduce young people to the natural world (2) Nurture sensitivity to humans’ place within natural ecosystems (3) Foster students’ increased self-esteem and the development of their capacity for leadership, self-reliance, and group cooperation (4) Instill in students an appreciation for the natural world and the value of conservation in everyday life (5) Promote active participation and leadership in environmental stewardship and scientific inquiry.
Students who come to Manice are New Yorkers, with special attention paid to underresourced neighborhoods in the Bronx and Queens. In the summer of 2025, 30% of students were Black, 36% Hispanic, 16% multiracial, and 11% White. Many of our program “alumni” get their first jobs at Manice, becoming teaching assistants or outdoor educators. We strive to engage young people early in our program and nurture their growth throughout adolescence, providing lessons that will serve as a lodestar for life.
Total Project Budget: 822725
Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): $60,000 in student fees, across the entire summer; $30,000 in individuals
Project Duration: Summer 2026
Geographical Area Served: NYC Youth from across the five boroughs
Age Group To Be Served: 11 – 18
Contact Information
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Alexis
Contact Last Name: Sanborn
Contact Title: Director of Development
Contact Phone: 212-371-5225
Contact Email: development@christodora.org