Maria Novello-Gomez is the Founder and Executive Director of The Nevada School Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to ending the cycle of homelessness among young adults in Southern Nevada through safe housing and education.

Meet Our Founder

A Mission Born from Believing in Second Chances

Every nonprofit begins with a story. Mine began long before I founded The Nevada School Foundation.

I was once a single mother facing many of the same barriers that the young adults we serve face today. I know what it feels like to struggle, to wonder how you'll make ends meet, and to hope someone will believe in your potential. Those experiences didn't define my future; they shaped my purpose.

For nearly two decades, I've helped individuals transform their lives through education, workforce development, and career opportunities. Along the way, I met countless young adults with talent, determination, and dreams who lacked only stable housing, guidance, or the chance to move forward. Those experiences led me to establish The Nevada School Foundation.

Our mission goes beyond temporary assistance. We believe lasting change starts with safe housing and continues through education, career training, employment, mentorship, and a community that believes in every individual's potential.

Where a person starts should never determine where they finish. Everyone deserves a second chance, someone who believes in them, and the opportunity to build a life of hope, purpose, and independence.

Today, it's my privilege to lead an organization committed to restoring hope, creating opportunity, and helping young adults discover that their circumstances don't define their future.

Thank you for believing in our mission, and for joining us as we build brighter futures, one life at a time.

With gratitude,

Maria Novello,

Founder & Executive Director, The Nevada School Foundation

A group of women and children gathered on stage at a church event for the 'Code Red Rally Night' in Las Vegas, with a large screen behind them displaying the event details and a few holding signs with positive messages.

Community Partnerships

The Nevada School Foundation is proud to partner with Victory Outreach East Las Vegas, standing alongside them in prayer and outreach to reach the hurting women of our city. This year, that partnership deepened during the 2026 Code Red response, as our teams came together to bring comfort, hope, and the message of God's love to women facing some of the coldest and most vulnerable nights of the year. We're grateful for this partnership and for every volunteer who shows up to remind someone that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten.