Founded in 1989 through the generosity of the Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Foundation, HEAF is an education and youth leadership organization that helps motivated public school students in NYC who are educationally and economically disadvantaged develop the intellectual curiosity, academic ability, social values, and personal resiliency they need to ensure success in school, career, and life. HEAF identifies students in middle school and supports them until they are successfully graduated from four-year colleges through a variety of after-school, Saturday and summer educational and youth leadership programs.

HEAF began as a program that supported select public schools in Central Harlem. By the time the program was institutionalized, students performing at or above grade level in reading had increased from 9 percent to 48 percent, and in math from 11 percent to 53 percent. A similar spirit of innovation lead to an effective, long term partnership with The Mott Hall School, which resulted in support for students entering the city's specialized high schools and the creation and nurturance of a world class chess team, the Dark Knights, funded and staffed for many years through the auspices of the Harlem Educational Activities Fund, Inc. These successes served as clear evidence that all students can learn provided they receive the right support, guidance, and resources.

Since its inception, HEAF has served over 1000 students through its remarkable school partnerships and community based programs. HEAF Scholars have matriculated graduated from the nation's leading institutions of higher education including Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth, Swarthmore, Howard, University of Pennsylvania, SUNY Binghamton, and Haverford. We are continuing to expand our offerings for college-bound HEAF scholars and look forward to many more years of service in the historic Harlem community.