While working on NCSY Kollel, our founder, Jacob, noticed that some of the public school participants did not own a pair of Tefillin, and desperately wanted their own. Jacob managed to obtain 15 pairs of Tefillin owned previously by students that unfortunately left them at their high school when they graduated. After getting them checked by a Sofer, 9 of the pairs were Kosher. Over the next three summers, on various programs, Jacob orchestrated unique Hanachas Tefillin surprises for many Jewish high school and college students from secular backgrounds. After running out of pairs, he organized a triple Hachnasas Tefillin for students in the beginner Ohr Somayach track between the ages of 20-25.  With no funding, and a lot of Hashgacha Pratis, three pairs of Tefillin were secured in a short amount of time, and three Jewish young men celebrated receiving their first pairs of Tefillin. After that experience it became clear that it was time to start a project to get as many deserving Jews a free pair of Tefillin as possible. The Initial funding came from Yavneh on Campus. The Tefillin Project  won 1st place in a competition Yavneh runs called Shtark Tank. 5 pairs of Tefillin were bought, swag was designed, and the project has been growing ever since.