16 Hours and 49 Minutes: The time between school ending one day and starting the next
Project 16:49 is a local non-profit organization serving Rock County’s unaccompanied homeless teens. We believe every child deserves an opportunity to succeed. To that end, Project 16:49 ensures access to the services and support these students need to remain in school, graduate and become self-sufficient adults.
A Place To Call Home
After a Year of Homelessness, a Young Family Finds Stability


See The Difference We (YOU!) Made In 2022
- Wholeheartedness – “Leading with our whole heart”
- Collaboration – “Fostering a spirit of collaboration in all that we do”
- Accountability – “Being accountable to each other, the youth we serve, and our community”
2023 Lip Sync Battle Raises $60,000
After two years of missed events due to COVID-19, the 2023 return of the Lip Sync Battle was a resounding success for Project 16:49.
Thanks to nine teams of performers, numerous sponsors and raffle donors, over 500 attendees and a great army of volunteers, over $60,000 was raised at the event. This total was over 50% more than the previous high for this event. The revenue is critical in providing life-changing support and opportunities for Rock County’s homeless youth.
A team representing Kennedy Elementary School in Janesville, the “Kennedy Rockettes,” took the Overall Champion and Crowd Favorite awards, while the “Festival Foodies” from Festival Foods won the Audience Choice Award. The Kennedy Rockettes previously won in 2017 and 2019, while this was Festival’s debut performance.
See photos and a wrap-up from the 2023 event!
See the performers’ videos at Project 16:49’s YouTube channel!
One of the challenges some of our unaccompanied youth face is that, prior to turning 18, they cannot receive medical or mental health care without the signature of a parent. What happens when they won’t sign?
A powerful article featuring Dezy, a girl we are serving, appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel December 1 and describes the surprising hurdles these young people face, and what needs to be done to remove these obstacles.
News, Fundraisers and Upcoming Events
Learn more about Project 16:49’s current needs and happenings, and find out how you can support Rock County’s homeless youth by attending or supporting one of our upcoming events and fundraisers. AND for the first time, you can watch the 2010 film Sixteen Forty-Nine that led to our organization being formed.