The Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Santiam has been awarded three grants in recent weeks, two of which will specifically target program enhancements at the Sweet Home clubhouse.
The Oregon Community Foundation has provided $10,000 in financial support for the Friday Learning Academies in Sweet Home program launched by the club this fall. FLASH was developed to provide an academic enrichment opportunity for members on non-school Friday mornings. Programming includes periodic special guest presenters who provide fun learning opportunities in a variety of areas including art, science, and physical education.
FLASH also makes tutoring available from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The program has expanded the club’s hours and has cost participating members $5 extra for the morning portion of the program, which includes breakfast and lunch.
The grant money will allow the $5 Friday fee to be waived for the remainder of the school year, and the club will open at no cost at 7 a.m. on non-school Fridays.
The second grant award, totaling $5,000, is a Technology Grant funded by Comcast through the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which will provide resources for technology lab upgrades at the Sweet Home Clubhouse including digital cameras and Lego robotics, as well as provide additional enhanced technology-based programs.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity to provide new services here in Sweet Home,” said Andi Casteel, Sweet Home Clubhouse director. “The Tech Lab upgrades will help us prepare Sweet Home kids for opportunities in education, work and careers that are cutting edge, provide great learning, and are incredibly engaging.”
The organization received a third grant, also for $5,000, from the Umpqua Bank Community Giving Program.
Those funds will be utilized to support the “Passport to Greatness Program,” which was deployed in all four of the club’s branches this fall. The program provides incentives for club members to participate in specific activities which have been determined as the most impactful – especially as related to academic success, on a daily basis.
Club Executive Director, Kris Latimer, said the combination of the new resources, with the “over-the-top” support of the Sweet Home community at the Fall Yardin’ in Dollars for Kids Auction, are “like holiday wishes come true.”
“East Linn County turned out in a big way for the Fall Auction, yardin’ in more than $80,000 for critical programs and services for kids,” she said. “It was well above what we had anticipated and the community support was over the top. We are very grateful to everyone who attended and doubly grateful to the volunteer committee and staff who worked hard to make it a super event.”
Latimer said the grants and auction proceeds “will be invested in programing that will help the organization achieve its long term goals of assuring that all East Linn County kids have the skills and abilities necessary to perform academically and be prepared for postsecondary education or training, jobs and careers, citizenship and life.
“As always, the community is encouraged to stop by the club and witness first-hand the amazing programs and services under way.”
For more information, contact Latimer at (541) 367-5263, stop by the club, or e-mail [email protected].