Frequently asked questions:

Who is Edwin Gould?
Edwin Gould (1866-1933) was one of six children of Jay Gould, the Wall Street and railroad tycoon who made his fortune in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. By age 27, Edwin had achieved his own success as a Wall Street broker and speculator, married Sarah Shrady, and inherited from his father's estate to make a fortune of twenty million dollars. Edwin was fond of his mother-in-law, Hester Shrady, who donated much of her time and wealth to The Sheltering Arms Children's Services. Her efforts impressed Edwin and Sarah so much that they began making contributions of money, food and clothing to charitable organizations. When the Gould's son, Edwin, Jr., was accidentally shot while on a camping trip, a basket of roses arrived at the funeral from the children of Sheltering Arms, one rose from each child. Moved by this kindness, Gould determined that he would devote his fortune to the welfare of children. In 1923, through a special act of the New York Legislature, he established the Edwin Gould Foundation for Children to ensure that these services to children would not cease with his death.

85 years later, Edwin Gould Academy and the EGA Multi-Service Center & Residence thrive independent of the Foundation, still dedicated to the hands-on model of service and commitment that Edwin Gould (and Hester Shrady) began.

Why are you called an Academy? 
The name, Edwin Gould Academy, is a part of our long history as a Residential Treatment Center and Special Act public school in Rockland County, NY. As an academy in a more classical sense, we are both an institution and an association formed to advance instruction, learning, and mastery in education, vocational training, and skills for purposeful living.

Who comes to EGA?
Young adults aged 18 to 27 who have aged out of the foster care and family court systems, find themselves homeless, and are ready to take charge of their lives and their futures come to EGA.

What happens at EGA?
The EGA Multi-Service Center is the hub of a community-wide network of service providers, staffed by trained and experienced case managers who care. When you come to EGA a case manager will collaborate with you on an Individual Service Plan that will empower you to work toward short- and long-term goals. EGA case managers and Exodus Partners provide the support and services you need to achieve them. We work as hard as you work.

What can I do for EGA?
If you are a homeless young adult who has aged out of foster care or the family court system, come to EGA and speak with one of our case managers to find out how we may help you to take charge of your life and your future.

If you are a more secure member of our community, we hope you will consider making a gift, in any amount comfortable, to Edwin Gould Academy. Gifts from individuals are especially important to us because they are a mark not only of your philanthropy, but of EGA's strong ties within the community we all share. As the world gets tougher, we need the support of individuals like you.

To donate online, follow the Support Us link at the top of this page.

Remember that we are a 501(c)(3) organization, so your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law.

What are EGA’s chief sources of income?