Photo courtesy of BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE SUNCOAST
U.S. Rep. Bill Young presents the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast with a $164,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice during an awards ceremony at the clubs’ Pinellas Park branch Jan. 30.
PINELLAS PARK – The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast received a $164,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in a presentation at the Pinellas Park branch Jan. 30, attended by U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
The Office of Justice Programs grant is part of a nationwide effort to promote the importance of positive adult mentors. It will allow the clubs to provide mentoring services directly to the many military families that live throughout Pinellas County for the first time. The $164,000 total will help about 206 youths, ages 5 to 18.
While supporting children of military families, a portion of the funds will be used for mentoring programs for minority males. Research has shown that these two demographic groups are especially vulnerable to negative peer pressure, and a higher high school dropout rate.
“We have been focused this last month on planning and implementing mentoring activities and programs for club members,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast President Nita Smith. “So much of the success we have experienced over the last few years is centered upon establishing positive adult role models so the young people we serve come to believe that a great future is possible for each and every one of them too.”
Among the full range of mentoring and youth development programs available at every location is Project Learn, which emphasizes the importance of high-yield learning activities during the critical out-of-school hours. Research has shown that journal writing, cooking classes and managing a club snack shop helps young people understand the importance and relevance of an education, resulting in a lifelong love of learning.
Each of the eight Clubhouses throughout Pinellas County has a state-of-the-art tech center with age-appropriate programs that teach members how to embrace technology, while staying safe online.
“This will be a great new program in Pinellas County, and I am particularly impressed with the commitment that both Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Suncoast organization have made to young people whose parents serve in the military,” Young said. “We know of the bravery and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, and this new program allows our local Boys & Girls Clubs and our community to give back to these families.”
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