Tuesday, October 21, 2014
New York Life Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to the YMCA of Greater New York
The YMCA of Greater New York announced today that it received a four-year, $1 million grant from the New York Life Foundation to expand the Y Scholars Middle School Program. The Y Scholars Program is currently offered at 19 sites throughout the five boroughs of New York and serves more than 1,200 children. The grant will allow the Y to expand to four additional middle school sites, reaching at least 400 additional children in New York City.
The Y Scholars Middle School program helps students in underserved neighborhoods and under resourced schools better prepare for their futures as life-long learners as they begin their pathway to college. The program fosters the academic, social and emotional skills necessary to succeed in high school and eventually college by providing 120 program hours during the school year, which includes academic assistance, leadership, civic affairs and volunteer service learning. In addition, because studies have found that getting teens to exercise and focus on fitness reduces risky behaviors and facilitates school success, the Y gives students membership cards that give these youth free access to their local YMCA branch....