To develop education, health care and other socially significant programs that are dedicated to enhancing the health and wellness of children in the Coachella Valley region of Southern California
History
In 1998 the John F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation (JFK Foundation) was identified as the first national affiliate of the Ophelia Project by the initial Ophelia Board of Directors in Erie, Pennsylvania. Ophelia Project of Coachella Valley began serving a very small group of a few girls, with a few volunteer mentors in a single school.
Some 15 other sites around the United States became affiliates through the early years but all eventually folded for various reasons leaving the Coachella Valley chapter to be the last continuing program. Ophelia Project of Coachella Valley not only survived but was greatly successful. Growing to serve 16 programs in 14 school sites across 3 independent school districts, the program is prepared to serve 750 girls each year with a volunteer force of 200 professional mentors and business leaders. Our vision is to continue to provide and expand Ophelia Project in the valley assuring its benefits for future generations of teenage girls.
National Headquarters
In 2014, JFK Foundation was asked to become the Ophelia Project National Headquarters when the Erie program closed its doors. We are honored to be asked by the original leaders to take over this responsibility, and we take it very seriously. Being asked to take the national leadership of this program is greatly due to the growth and development of the Ophelia Project Coachella Valley model. The success of this model speaks for itself. During the 2017/2018 school year, celebrating their 20th year, Coachella Valley’s Ophelia Project had served 4,900 girls and the statistics are impressive…such as 100% Graduation Rates!