The Fiver Children's Foundation is a comprehensive youth development organization that makes a 10-year commitment to children from underserved communities throughout New York City and central New York. Through character-building summer and year-round out-of-school time programs, Fiver empowers children to make ethical and healthy decisions, to become engaged citizens, and to succeed in school, careers, and life.
Fiver takes its name from Richard Adam’s celebrated work of fiction Watership Down. The novel focuses on the survival, leadership, and courage of a group of rabbits, led by the visionary rabbit Fiver, who set out to find a better way of life. Inspired by this story, Founder and Chairman of the Board Tom Tucker established the Foundation in 1998 to benefit children from economically disadvantaged circumstances. What began as a summer camp has evolved into a comprehensive, year-round youth development organization.
To each participant, Fiver pledges 10 years of comprehensive, developmentally appropriate programs and support. Children begin the program at age 8 and graduate at age 18, upon high school graduation. Fiver aims to serve all of the children within a family and also provides a network of support for parents. Our programs are experiential, inquiry-based, youth-driven and free of charge to participants.