Newman YMCA Awarded $10,000 Grant from JCPenney Afterschool Fund
July 21, 2008
Funding to help engage more youth during afterschool hours.
The JCPenney Afterschool Fund has awarded a grant of $10,200 to the Newman YMCA to help more children participate in safe, life-enriching afterschool programs.
This gift is one of 340 similar grants being awarded by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund to YMCAs around the country. JCPenney Afterschool Fund’s total national contribution exceeds $3.5 million.
The grant award is specifically targeted to help YMCAs provide financial assistance to youth who are not currently participating in an afterschool program because their families lack the necessary financial resources, or those who are currently participating in a program, but who are at risk of leaving due to lack of funds.
“The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is firmly committed to supporting youth-serving organizations like the YMCA that are dedicated to providing safe, meaningful programs during the crucial hours of 3 to 6 p.m., when studies show that youth are at a greater risk of involvement in crime, drug abuse and other destructive behaviors,” says Jodi Gibson, president of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. “By combining resources, we can help reduce the number of unserved youth and ensure that students of all backgrounds and income levels are able to benefit from afterschool programs.”
Complementing the JCPenney Afterschool Fund’s support of the Newman YMCA is a separate gift from JCPenney of 18 JCPenney Gift Cards worth $50 each for children receiving financial assistance from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund grant to help with the purchase of school clothing and supplies for the new school year.
“The generous support of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund and JCPenney enhances our efforts to serve as many children as possible with meaningful, high-quality afterschool programming,” says Christine Pezzullo, Child Care Director. “They believe, as we do, that children are our greatest asset, and that by working together we can not only keep children safer, but also help provide them with lasting benefits, including healthier lifestyles, improved social skills and an enhanced academic performance.”
Today, with nearly 10,000 child care programs across the country, the nation’s YMCAs are a leading resource for parents looking to find engaging and fun afternoon activities for their children. Most YMCA afterschool programs include elements that promote health and well-being, social skill development, emotional development, artistry, character development, sports and service. In Seekonk, Rehoboth and East Providence, the YMCA serves 220 school age children working with 12 different schools.
ABOUT THE JCPENNEY AFTERSCHOOL FUND: The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to advancing the afterschool movement in JCPenney communities by increasing access for children in need, inspiring innovation in the field, and elevating awareness of the value of afterschool programs. Currently, more than 14 million youth in America are unsupervised every day between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Through partnerships with YMCA of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National 4-H and United Way of America, the JCPenney Afterschool Fund helps prepare children to reach their full potential by providing them with essential afterschool opportunities.
ABOUT JCPENNEY: JCPenney (NYSE: JCP) is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,074 department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet, jcp.com, and the nation's largest general merchandise catalog business. Through these integrated channels, JCPenney offers a wide array of national, private and exclusive brands which reflect the company's commitment to providing customers with style and quality at a smart price. The company posted revenue of $19.9 billion in 2007 and is executing its strategic plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to this strategy is JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning, intended to generate deeper, more emotionally driven relationships with customers by fully engaging the company's 155,000 Associates to offer encouragement, provide ideas and inspire customers every time they shop with JCPenney.
THE YMCA: A LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO HEALTH OF SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY: The nation’s 2,663 YMCAs serve nearly 20.2 million people each year, including 9.4 million children under the age of 18. Through a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, health and well-being for all and family strengthening, YMCAs unite men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs have proudly served America’s communities for nearly 160 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all.