Irene deGrandpre - Roots & Wings - 9/19/13
Today I had the opportunity to meet Irene deGrandpre, founder of the non-profit organization Roots & Wings in Denville. As a former Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, Irene saw a needs of young people aging out of the foster care system. Sadly, she watched many of them fall through the cracks due to lack of funds, a place to live, and a job. So in 1999, with the help of friends and family, she started Roots & Wings. This non-profit foundation addresses the needs of these at-risk youth and gives them a chance at a self-sufficient life. In addition to meeting Irene, I had the chance to sit down with a current client, his mentor, and a graduate of the program. It was truly incredible to hear first hand about how Roots & Wings greatly changed their life and how far they have come today. Each client receives a personalized plan that is tailored to their needs and goals, which is why their success rate is so high. 100% of their graduates leave the program with a safe place to live and a GED or high school diploma. 86% are employed. It’s amazing to see what the Roots & Wings staff has been able to accomplish with this group of young people. Congratulations to Irene for being named a NJ Hero! She is truly an inspiration to me and many others. And thank you to Roots & Wings for the incredible work they are doing. For more information on Roots & Wings, please visit their website: http://www.rootsandwingsnj.org/
