Van Wagner is delighted to be an active and dedicated supporter of the Harlem Academy, a non profit independent day school that works collaboratively with families, teachers and other supporters to provide educational opportunity to children whose potential might otherwise go unrealized. In addition to financial support from Van Wagner Communications and many Van Wagner employees and partners, Van Wagner's people dedicate hundreds of personal hours serving on the school's various committees and participating in major fund raising events such as the Climb for Harlem Academy and the annual Spring Benefit. Van Wagner is proud to support the Harlem Academy and especially proud the school is making a difference in the world.

Harlem Academy first opened its doors in 2004 with a first grade class of 12 students in a small classroom provided by the Children's Arts Carnival, a community based arts organization. Thanks to dedicated support by organizations like Van Wagner Communications and many generous individuals like Van Wagner's Richard Schaps and Mark Johnston, the school quickly grew out of its facilities. Indeed, according to Vincent Dotoli, Head of School "we are in a far better position to succeed long term due to the generosity of organizations like Van Wagner."

Harlem Academy sets itself apart with financial contributions from all attending families with equal access for low- and moderate- income families based on a sliding scale. The school engages in longer and more challenging academic blocks, admissions standards that require dedicated family partnership, fundraising conducted almost entirely through the support of private partners, and preparation of students from diverse, under-served populations for success at top secondary schools and universities.

Today, the school is housed at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 111th Street in Manhattan. The space has five classrooms and two large common areas, providing room for growth through the 2008/2009 school year. Harlem Academy currently serves almost 60 students in first through fourth grades. Each year one more grade is added as the school builds toward a vision for an elementary and middle school program in Harlem that matches or exceeds the standards of any independent school in New York City. The first class of eighth grade students will graduate in 2012, prepared to succeed at top independent day, independent boarding, and public secondary schools. As part of its long-term maturation, the school will also build a permanent facility and an endowment to support student scholarships.