We recently observed World Refugee Day by attending a cocktail and media gathering at the Sixty SoHo Hotel showcasing Project Promise, an international non-profit and their humanitarian efforts for at-risk youth.
The event was hosted by the Founder of Project Promise, Resa O’Reilly and was co-hosted by downtown Manhattan’s cultural curators – CACHÉ LIFE, who have organized events for Dior and luxury menswear sneaker brand, FACTO among others. Resa spoke to us at length about Project Promise and its mission to improve the lives of at-risk youth on the island of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as she showcased securing generators, food, clothing, beds, and most recently new furniture for families in need, and announced a new alliance with Spirit Airlines who will be donating 10 round trip airline tickets and $1000.00 in relief funds. The partnership with Spirit will provide flights for Project Promise youth to travel across the US who will volunteer on a variety of humanitarian issues across the nation.
When asked about her motivation in founding Project Promise, Resa said “I felt a sense of responsibility to help children in my community live their best lives. Before creating Project Promise, I worked with youth throughout our community and recognized the many challenges that these children faced. I recognized the need for a holistic program and when the opportunity to create my own organization and curriculum presented itself, I accepted the challenge”.
Project Promise recently launched the St. Croix Trauma Intervention and Relief Project that trains members in the community to become Trauma Informed Life Coaches allowing them to visit hard-hit areas and schools to work with residents, and students still reeling from the psychological and emotional effects of the storm. Resa O’Reilly said she started this project because “I felt a sense of responsibility to help children in my community live their best lives. Before creating Project Promise, I worked with youth throughout our community and recognized the many challenges that these children faced. I recognized the need for a holistic program and when the opportunity to create my own organization and curriculum presented itself, I accepted the challenge.”
Next month, Project Promise will travel to South Africa where they will continue their humanitarian efforts to coincide with Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday year.