Our Journey So Far
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"
- Lao Tzu
2023 and 2024 Accomplishments
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iCMAD’s work began before we became a 501(c)(3) in May 2023. We started in 2015 with a Winter Coat Drive to collect 250 winter coats for unhoused individuals and ended up distributing over 2500 coats and warm clothing. That same year we held our first annual Break Free Women's Conference to provide a sanctuary for underrepresented women. In 2019, we held our first annual Mother and Child Weekend Retreat, a natural extension of the Break Free Conference. In 2020, we launched our weekly Single Parent Support Group, a safe place to connect with other single parents. In 2023, we launched our Pass the Purse, Please program which is an interactive, fun-filled event focused on emotional wellness for single mothers.
Over the past two years, we have grown significantly. In 2024, iCMAD positively impacted over 700 women and children by providing programs and tools to foster emotional resilience and self-awareness and to better manage trauma and stress. We are forever grateful for our community of supporters.
Glimpse into the Past
2024 Mother & Child Weekend Retreat
Pictures from our third collaboration with the Fairview Lake YMCA Camps provided 18 mothers and 22 children, ages 5-17, to spend a weekend away at camp. Activities included s'mores by the campfire, archery, boating, rock wall climbing, nature discovery hikes, and stream ecology lessons. Moms attended workshops focused on building communication and interpersonal skills and developing goals for the future. In 2025, a new program, Transforming Dreams Into Reality, will build on the Vision Boards the mothers developed and provide coaching assistance to guide them toward achieving their goals.
Pass the Purse, Please
In 2024 we held sixteen Past the Purse, Please events in MO, NJ, PA, and NYC, collecting over 700 purses filled with toiletries and distributed to approximately 500 women.
Bernice's Place
Bernice Place, a program of the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless in Elizabeth, NJ, serves as a vital resource for numerous homeless and at-risk children in the area. This program offers a secure, enjoyable, and nurturing environment for children residing in shelters and temporary housing, featuring afterschool and summer camp programs designed to support their needs.
2024 Turkey Trot in Morristown, NJ
iCMAD collaborated with Amazing Feet Running Club and Fleet Feet in Westfield to launch this inaugural wellness event on Thanksgiving Day. A total of fifteen mothers and their children took part in the activity. Each participant received a pair of running shoes, and one lucky mom with a baby was gifted a running stroller!
