Festa

05/10/2026

Today and every day, we celebrate and honor the roles mothers and mother figures play in our lives.

Tag a mom you appreciate in the comments below!

05/05/2026

Last week, Level 3 ESL class began with the planned lesson, but everything changed when one student shared she had a job interview the next morning. Without missing a beat, the class came together to support her.

They practiced interview questions, role-played different scenarios and talked through what to wear.

Nebyat later shared that she arrived nervous and unsure, but left feeling deeply encouraged. Her classmates gave her confidence and empowered to share about her life.

Update: SHE GOT THE JOB! 🎉

Join us celebrating more wins like this! We are currently looking for classroom assistants to support our adult ESL learners on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. No experience necessary.

Sign-up: wearefesta.org/volunteer

04/20/2026

Festa Summer Lunch Camp registration is OPEN! ☀

Students who have finished K-12 grades are invited to join us every day for games, special activities, friendship and a nutritious, free lunch.

Looking forward to a great summer with all our friends!

wearefesta.org/festasummerlunchcamp

04/14/2026

Our Northland site is thriving and full of imaginative, curious and creative friends! Every evening these incredible children remind us just how powerful playtime can be.

Join us and be a part of something special! You will know you are making a difference when you witness the magic of children building confidence and discovering their voices. These are the kinds of friendships that last long after class time ends.

Come play: wearefesta.org/volunteer

04/10/2026

While Festa isn’t an acronym, it helps us tell our story. We Feed, Educate, Serve, Train and Advocate through multi-generational English education.

A stands for advocate. We have had the honor of being in relationship with families from more than 91 countries around the globe who live right here in Columbus. We’ve been to each other’s homes. We’ve shared life with one another. We have even visited our friends' home countries with them for special occasions! What we've learned about the hardships that people manage daily require us to use our voices to advocate for a better community for all. 🫶

Join the fun: wearefesta.org/volunteer

04/08/2026

Festa is honored to be named one of The Columbus Foundation's “5 Nonprofits to Watch” in 2026! 🌟

We are inspired to be in the company of organizations that, like us, believe lasting change happens through connection, dignity, and long-term investment in people.

Because of you, we are able to serve 1,200 families at three locations of 3-Generation Family ESL across Central Ohio.

In the coming year, we will continue to:
💜 Narrow the enormous gap between the demand for English and the supply of adult ESL classes. Only 10% of people who want to learn English can find a class to attend, and we are committed now more than ever to remove the barriers to language education and support.
💜 Serve families at our three locations across the city.
💜 Train more communities to run family-centered ESL programs in their neighborhoods.

Being named a "nonprofit to watch" affirms what we see every day: when people come together with purpose and care, meaningful change is possible.

Thank you for joining us !

Each year, The Columbus Foundation recognizes 5 Nonprofits to Watch that exemplify strong leadership and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for people throughout our region. Congratulations to the 5 Nonprofits to Watch in 2026: Dress for Success Columbus, Festa, Home for Families, Opera Colu...

04/06/2026

It's an honor together! It is never too early to experience the joy of service.

Join us: wearefesta.org/volunteer

03/30/2026

Festa is honored to receive a three-year Elevate! grant from the City of Columbus!

This investment will allow us to continue narrowing the enormous gap between the demand for English and the supply of adult ESL classes. Only 10% of people who want to learn English can find a class to attend, and we are committed now more than ever to remove the barriers to language education and support.

We are proud to run three 3-Generation Family ESL locations across the city serving more than 1,200 families (children and adults) and counting!

Thank you, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, and Columbus City Council for partnering with us !

Full press release: columbus.gov/News-articles/Columbus-Announces-2026-Nonprofit-Grants

03/25/2026

While Festa isn’t an acronym, it helps us tell our story. We Feed, Educate, Serve, Train and Advocate through multi-generational English education.

Have you felt inspired to serve your neighbors, but aren’t quite sure where to start? We've spent years building a 3-Generation Family ESL model that walks alongside families in practical, everyday ways, and now we’re opening up a training to help you bring something like it to your own community! This online training course is designed to translate a proven model into practical application, equipping you with clear frameworks, operational tools and guided instruction.

We are hard at work now and excited to share this new program with you, launching this coming summer!

More info: training.wearefesta.org

03/23/2026

Our littlest program members are hard at work preparing for the rest of their lives!

Thanks to our preschool curriculum customized for toddlers learning English + our dedicated staff team, 89% of students ages 3-5 have mastered 70% of the skills the State of Ohio uses to determine kindergarten readiness. 🤩

It is an honor to cheer on these life-long learners and watch them achieve their dreams!

Join us for snacks and early literacy activities: wearefesta.org/volunteer

03/19/2026

While Festa isn’t an acronym, it helps us tell our story. We Feed, Educate, Serve, Train and Advocate through multi-generational English education.

From day one, we've been committed to recruiting, training and mobilizing neighbors to serve neighbors across lines of difference. Now, we average more than 800 volunteers a year! Now, volunteers share with us almost every day how their lives have been positively impacted because of the friendships they’ve made who are culturally, religiously, ethnically, racially and economically diverse.

We have year-round volunteer opportunities for everyone - individuals, families with children, teens, corporate and small groups - and we invite you to join us!

Register to volunteer: wearefesta.org/volunteer