Helene Marks Early Start Foundation

The Helene Marks Early Start Foundation is guided by the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. The foundation finds, funds, and fosters exemplary programs that offer children a healthy environment to achieve social and emotional well-being and academic success. We seek to improve the quality of learning and available care and to broaden access for children, infants to age three, who need it most.The Helene Marks Early Start Foundation (HMESF) was established in honor of Helene Marks, a generous and compassionate mother, wife, and community leader, who worked tirelessly to improve the quality of affordable childcare. As a monument of their love and respect, Helene’s daughter, Jaime, and husband, Richard, created the foundation to continue her life’s work of improving the quality of childcare education. Focusing its efforts in New York City, HMESF will support programs and initiatives aimed at providing children with a healthy learning environment that will enable them to grow and succeed emotionally and academically.