Welcome to The Denville Moms Local Nonprofit Spotlight Series!
Photo Credit: ACACNJ
As our third Non Profit Organization, we are excited to introduce you to ACACNJ. All Children’s Art Center of NJ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing children of all ages and abilities a safe environment where they can express themselves artistically. Their goal is to give children the opportunity to explore all their artistic abilities in one safe, clean and adult supervised environment. From music classes, performing, painting and drawing to creating slime, bath bombs or crafting with clay are just a few of the lots of artistic and creative beautiful things.
What is your nonprofit called and how long have you been established?
All Children’s Art Center of NJ – Established in 2017
What is your mission?
Our mission is not only to promote art education that’s lacking more and more in our school systems, but also enhance children’s development and creativity, by providing all arts in one place .
Who does your organization serve?
Families with children of all ages and abilities.
What was a recent project you worked on? How did it come to fruition?
Recently started sponsoring less financially fortuned families in the area, by allowing the to take art, music lessons for free. The idea came from seeing children around the area, either sitting on their porches or walking down the street, walking to their parent’s workplace after work. Why not to invite them to get creative!
Photo Credit: ACACNJ
What was the inspiration behind the formation of your nonprofit?
Our own children. We are parents to 5 children, ages ranging from 3 to 22 years old. We feel the need and responsibility as parents and citizens in a society where issues like mental health are affecting children around the world. We simply can’t sit and watch. We needed to do something positive and creative to encourage not only our kids but other kids in the community.
What’s on the horizon (with respect to your endeavor; future plans or goals)?
We recently expanded our rental facilities in Boonton, giving us the ability to host more children Our one goal is to keep creativity alive, keep our children safe, by promoting more artistic activities and less use of technology in their free time, unfortunately, a problem that hits most families with kids.
What speaker topics/experts are you looking for? Who can our readers contact if they want to volunteer their expertise? Do you have specific milestones/dates you can share with us (ie. gratitude clubs)?
We can certainly use volunteers in all aspects of the organization. We’d love to offer workshops, seminars regarding some of issues we see affecting our kids, mental health, violence, suicide. Having children who have suffered from anxiety and depression, we feel there is a need to constantly get educated to help our children.
Photo Credit: ACACNJ
What is an example of “their own meaningful programming?” If our readers have children who want to get involved in your organization if is that possible and how?
Children are always welcome to get involved, no necessary by taking a class, but buy simply participating in our open to the community events, such karaoke nights, workshops, assisting families and children.
We are fortunate to have a handful of middle school and high school volunteers, including our kids! helping out on a regular basis.
What are additional ways in which our readers can contribute or volunteer their time?
We accept any help, any time, as a non profit, we are in to help our community, but we know it does not come free, we could use help organizing fundraising events, workshops that will bring more awareness of our Organization and our mission.
