Northern's Annual Appeal Launch: Give the Gift of Healing This Holiday Season

When eight-year-old Julian arrived at Northern’s Wellness & Resiliency Program last spring, he was struggling. He had been suspended twice. He barely spoke in class. His mother described him as “shut down.” At Northern, he began with small steps that opened the door to healing. Ten quiet minutes drawing with his therapist. Fifteen minutes of gentle group games.

Today, everything looks different.
He runs onto campus with a grin. He helps set the snack table. He proudly reads his poem to the group.

“It feels easier to breathe here,” Julian says.

For children like Julian, the Wellness & Resiliency Program is more than after-school care. It is a therapeutic community where young people build supportive relationships, learn coping skills, and discover their own strength.

But right now this program faces real risk.

Because of recent and potential reductions in Medicaid reimbursement, programs like Wellness are in danger of losing the resources that keep them alive. Most of the children and youth Northern serves live in under-resourced neighborhoods where families face significant stress, limited access to behavioral health care, and daily challenges that make services like Wellness essential.

It is not just Julian benefiting from this program.

This is why we are launching our 2025–2026 Annual Appeal.
Your support is needed to keep healing spaces open for the children and families who rely on them.

Year-round, children in Wellness receive:
• Therapeutic groups led by trained clinicians
• One-on-one support from paraprofessionals
• Art, recreation, and enrichment opportunities
• Nutritious meals
• Homework help and a safe, caring environment

Caregivers see real change.
“The program helped my child learn how to control his anger and talk when he’s feeling sad. They gave him hope and gave me peace.”

Wellness & Resiliency staff see growing strength.
“Wellness is a haven where children build relationships, heal, and grow. Without this space, we risk losing more than a program—we risk losing possibility"

Your generosity protects these outcomes and keeps Northern’s children and youth on a path toward brighter days.

Here are some examples of what your support can do:

👉 Make a gift today: Give the Gift of Healing Today

Together, we can protect what’s working—and ensure that children, youth, and families across Philadelphia build brighter futures.