By: Richard L. Smith
Image Credit: Justine Cooper
In a major step toward improving maternal, infant, and early childhood health, the Burke Foundation has announced a historic $6.5 million in multi-year grants, the largest in its history, to expand programs supporting New Jersey families from pregnancy through a child’s first two years of life.
According to a statement released by the Burke Foundation, this significant investment reinforces its mission to ensure that every child in New Jersey has the strongest possible start.
The grants will help expand access to care and services that address disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes across the state.
“The Foundation’s work reflects what science tells us, that the more nurturing children receive in the first 1,000 days, the healthier they will be for the rest of their lives,” said James Burke, president and board chair.
“It pays off for society too, reducing long-term spending in such areas as special education, public assistance, healthcare, and even criminal justice. Nobel laureate economist James Heckman found that every dollar spent on high-quality early childhood programs returns up to $13.”
One of the standout beneficiaries of this funding is the South Ward Wellness Center in Newark, which will receive a $500,000 capital investment toward a $43.7 million community health hub in one of the city’s most underserved neighborhoods.
The project will bring under one roof vital resources such as expanded doula care, CenteringPregnancy and CenteringParenting programs, lactation and mental health support, and workforce development training.
Developed by long-time Burke partner BRICK in collaboration with Saint James Health, the Center will serve more than 2,000 Newark residents annually.
Its focus is to provide culturally responsive, community-driven care that supports families from pregnancy through early childhood.
“At BRICK, we believe lasting change begins with listening to the community,” said Dominique Lee, chief executive officer of BRICK Education Network.
“The South Ward Wellness Center is more than a building — it’s a movement to reshape health, maternal, and early childhood care by centering local voices and culturally responsive services.
This investment ensures that families in Newark have a trusted home to address whole-family health starting from the womb. Together, we’re advancing equity, reducing racial disparities, and empowering families to thrive across generations. We are extremely thankful for partners like the Burke Foundation for believing in and investing in a comprehensive strategy to support families.”
With these new grants, the Burke Foundation continues its long-standing mission to support New Jersey families and create systems where every mother and child — regardless of zip code — has the opportunity to live healthy, thriving lives.