Empowering The Future

$85,000 Grant Expands Coding Education for Underserved Youth

When one student learns to code, it changes their path. When 800 students do—it changes a community. That’s the kind of change NextGen Thriving is proud to support and that’s what our grant to Code for Life intends to do.

NextGen Thriving is proud to announce Code for Life as a 2025 Grant Award Recipient, providing $85,000 to support their existing work in New York City and to expand their training model into Beauford County, South Carolina. This grant will help equip up to 800 students from the Bronx, Harlem, and Brooklyn neighborhoods of New York City with training in Coding Languages.

Reaching More Youth: From NYC to South Carolina

The funds also support the development of a franchise in Beauford County, South Carolina, where Code for Life will engage local high schools and partner institutions to deliver its proven training model to students in the most underserved communities.

As a resident and Pastor in Beauford County since 2007, I know firsthand what an incredible opportunity this represents to the underserved communities here. There is no one more deserving than these young people who just need to be given the opportunity to thrive. – Todd Cullen, Pastor at Hilton Head Island Community Church and Board Member, NextGen Thriving.

Strengthening Communities Through Tech Education

Code for Life is a New York City-based nonprofit organization that partners with faith-based organizations, nonprofits, schools, donors, and the tech community to transform young people’s futures in The Bronx and Harlem. Code for Life equips students with tangible life and technological skills to thrive in the new economy by delivering a high-quality continuum of software development courses designed to give them the measurable skills required in today’s marketplace. The goal is to create pathways to success, empowering youth with measurable, in-demand skills and inspiring a new perspective on their futures.

Code for Life launched in the spring of 2019 in East Harlem and has since expanded to three school sites in Harlem and the South Bronx. Courses range from Web Basics (HTML, CSS) to JavaScript, React, Node.js, Mongo dB, and Python. In 2024, the organization taught 320 students, 95% of whom became proficient in learning the languages taught. Code for Life has positively impacted more than 500 young people and is on track to reach over 800 in 2025.

A Long-Term Commitment

Recognizing its potential, NextGen Thriving (formerly Silver Tree Foundation) has proudly partnered with Code for Life since 2021, to help strengthen its operational foundation, refine its program delivery, measure student outcomes, and develop a long-term sustainability plan. As its reach grew, so did our investment. In 2022, with our increased funding and strategic guidance, Code for Life expanded its outreach to Harlem and the South Bronx, training more students and broadening its curriculum.

In 2023, the foundation helped the organization develop key operational metrics and a framework for tracking student proficiency, ensuring they could effectively measure and communicate its impact. NextGen Thriving’s funding enabled Code for Life to hire additional staff and enhance partnerships with schools and community organizations. We prioritized infrastructure improvements and ensured Code for Life could scale without compromising quality.

Our partnership with Code for Life is a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to fostering lasting change by ensuring nonprofits have the tools, expertise, and support to maximize their impact,” said Richard Ricks, Founder of NextGen Thriving and Founder and CEO of Silver Tree Consulting & Services. “When I first met Code for Life’s Founder, Chris Troy, I knew he was creating something special, and I am excited to expand his proven methods into new markets!

Join the Movement

Why Fund NextGen Thriving?

• 100% of donations are allocated to our Grants Program thanks to our corporate sponsor, Silver Tree Consulting & Services and the generosity of our Founder, Richard C. Ricks
• An investment in NextGen Thriving is strengthening an ecosystem of high-impact nonprofits, driving sustainable, scalable change for historically marginalized youth
• Our Board of Directors is deeply engaged and 100% invested in the mission
• Demonstrated operational excellence through legal compliance, monthly financial reconciliation and expense tracking, Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statements submitted annually by the Board, and Standard Operating Procedures

Our Grants Program does more than fund organizations aligned with our mission—we invest in their long-term success. We have already made a measurable difference since our founding in 2020:

• $550,000 total funds disbursed to 4 nonprofit organizations
• 1,953 total youth (ages 16-24) engaged through our programming
• How We’re Preparing Youth for the Future
  • Vocational training in baking and coding languages, including Web Basics (HTML, CSS), JavaScript, React, Node.js, Mongo dB, Python and Machine Learning
  • Job placements and career training on financial capability, education and career support services
• Geographic Communities Served – Harlem, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Houston, Texas