About us

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Our family of 5 has spent many years dedicating ourselves to the members of the Allentown Community. We have put in countless resources and efforts to make our community better. We decided that it was time to expand beyond the 5 of us and become more and better for the community. We have a drive and passion for helping people turn their lives around for the better!

Our vision is inspired by the timeless story of Noah's Ark. While Noah warned of a literal flood, The Ortiz Ark Foundation exists to help individuals, families, and communities navigate the figurative floods of life poverty, homelessness, hunger, violence, addiction, incarceration, crisis, and hopelessness.

Just as Noah opened the Ark to provide refuge, we extend a helping hand to those in need, walking alongside them two by two with compassion, dignity, and purpose. Through resources, education, advocacy, mentorship, and community partnerships, we help people weather life's storms and build a foundation for lasting success.

Our vision also embraces the often-overlooked symbol of the dove. After the flood, the dove returned carrying an olive branch a sign of hope, renewal, and new beginnings. In the same way, we strive to be a beacon of hope, equipping individuals, families, and youth not only to survive adversity but to heal, grow, and thrive. We believe every person deserves the opportunity for a fresh start, and we are committed to helping them build a future filled with hope, stability, and purpose.

 The Ortiz Ark Foundation is dedicated to strengthening individuals, families, and communities by providing equitable access to essential resources, education, nutritious food, health and wellness services, reentry support, advocacy, and opportunities for personal growth. We are committed to empowering underserved populations, fostering self-sufficiency, and creating pathways to long-term stability and success. Through compassion, collaboration, and community partnerships, we work to address the root causes of social inequities while inspiring hope, resilience, and lasting positive change for future generations. 

The Ortiz Ark Foundation is committed to creating and sustaining Family and Community Resources in order to develop the capacities of under-served individuals & families in the community. By increasing their access to resources and effectively address the roots of societal inequities. The business and purpose of the Ark is to provide a variety of services to individuals & families to build on individual, family, and community strengths and develop the individuals’ and families’ capacity to thrive. Services shall include but not be limited to life skills and education, reentry, etiquette classes for youth and adults, trade labor skills, free legal, clinics, sporting workshops and training, educational workshops, parent leadership programs, parenting support and education classes, after-school programs for youth, recreational and social events, housing, grants & scholarships.

The philosophy of The Ortiz Ark Foundation shall be to link community members to existing services offered by community-based organizations, coordinate service delivery with existing organizations, and offer direct services that are non-duplicative in the community.

  We’re On a Journey

The Ortiz Ark Foundation believes that the more diverse our team, the more unique our perspectives and bright ideas will be, creating original solutions and programming. At The Ortiz Ark Foundation, we are driven by the value of excellence and consistency. In community servitude, excellence means everyone deserves the best care, regardless of their race, color, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical abilities, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or criminal history. We embrace everyone from these underrepresented groups to help make this vision a reality. The Ortiz Ark Foundation does not discriminate in their hiring practices or delivery of services on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, age, pregnancy, genetic information, or service in the uniformed services.