Youth Service America Awards Grants to Help Afterschool Programs Engage Young People in Volunteering and Service

WASHINGTON, October 24, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​As the nation celebrates the 20th annual Lights On Afterschool rally today with more than 8,000 events in cities and town across the country, Youth Service America (YSA) is awarding grants to 60 afterschool programs in 32 states and Washington, D.C.

Supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the grants will expand opportunities for students in afterschool programs — particularly those from low- and moderate-income communities — to learn civic and 21^st century skills by leading community service or service-learning projects. Many grantees are planning activities for MLK Day of Service (January 20, 2020) and Global Youth Service Day (April 17-19, 2020). Nearly 9,000 students — 95% of whom are from underserved communities — will have the opportunity and support to find their voice, take action and make an impact in their schools and communities.

“We are thrilled to support afterschool programs that, in addition to serving youth, have committed to asking youth to serve their communities,” said Steven A. Culbertson, president and CEO of YSA. “Studies show youth in underserved communities have fewer opportunities than their peers in more affluent communities to take part in service projects. Students participating in such projects benefit by learning and practicing the problem-solving skills they need to be successful in school, work, and life. A student cannot do an effective service project without practicing the skills of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. Along with gaining job skills, this kind of civic engagement in childhood also leads to lifelong volunteering, voting, and philanthropy.”

Grantees include:

• IAMBK - Auburn, Alabama
• Arthur and Eva Brown Foundation - Birmingham, Alabama
• Boys and Girls Clubs of North Alabama - Huntsville, Alabama
• UCCAN - Mesa, Arizona
• Pensar Academy - Phoenix, Arizona
• Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission - Little Rock, Arkansas
• Pulaski County Youth Services - Little Rock, Arkansas
• West Valley Boys and Girls Club - Canoga Park, California
• Heart and Hand Center - Denver, Colorado
• New America School Lowry - Denver, Colorado
• York International - Denver, Colorado
• CT Eastern AHEC Inc. - Norwich, Connecticut
• Sussex Central High School - Georgetown, Delaware
• Kid Power, Inc. - Washington, District Of Columbia
• Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, Inc. - Fort Myers, Florida
• Camp Fire Sunshine Central Florida - Lakeland, Florida
• Rise Up 4 Change, Inc - Miami, Florida
• 3E Educational Services, LLC - Atlanta, Georgia
• Dream It Forward Foundation - Sunny Side, Georgia
• Garden Valley Teen Outreach - Garden Valley, Idaho
• John Boner Neighborhood Centers - EDGE - Indianapolis, Indiana
• Kentucky State University Promising Youth Center - Frankfort, Kentucky
• Little Elegant Ladies/ The Etiquette Club - Houma, Louisiana
• ReNEW Schaumburg Elementary - New Orleans, Louisiana
• Portland Community Squash - Portland, Maine
• The Complete Player Charity - Glen Burnie, Maryland
• So What Else - Rockville, Maryland
• Youth Volunteer Corps - Alpena, Michigan
• Montcalm Teen Center - Carson City, Michigan
• YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities - Minneapolis, Minnesota
• SR1 (Scientific Research) - Ridgeland, Mississippi
• Ms. Smith's Educational Services - Starkville, Mississippi
• Cashman Middle School - Las Vegas, Nevada
• Squires Community Partners / C.P. Squires E.S. - North Las Vegas, Nevada
• STEAMpark, INC - Rumson, New Jersey
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico - Albuquerque, New Mexico
• South Valley Prep Charter School - Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Children?s Aid/Curtis High School - Staten Island, New York
• Bethel Enrichment Center - Kannapolis, North Carolina
• LEAD Girls of NC Inc. - Winston Salem, North Carolina
• YAMM - Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Perry High School - Perry, Ohio
• Camp Fire Central Oregon - Bend, Oregon
• Chester Upland School District - Chester, Pennsylvania
• My New Journeys - Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• Mother Maria Kaupas Center - Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania
• Public Health Management Corporation - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Connect, Inc. - Washington, Pennsylvania
• City of Chattanooga - Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Carter County Drug Prevention - Elizabethton, Tennessee
• Youth Impact - El Paso, Texas
• YWCA El Paso del Norte Region - El Paso, Texas
• NISD ACE Learning Tree /Rudder MS - San Antonio, Texas
• Liberty Elementary CLC - Salt Lake City, Utah
• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula - Newport News, Virginia
• Community Preservation and Development Corporation - Reston, Virginia
• Area Health Education Center - Bellingham, Washington
• Yakima Police Athletic League - Yakima, Washington
• Lincoln County Schools - Hamlin, West Virginia
• Eastern Greenbrier Middle School - Ronceverte, West Virginia

Any staff, educator, mentor, parent, volunteer, or young person interested in partnering with YSA to add volunteer or service-learning activities to your afterschool program can sign up for more information at YSA.org/afterschool.

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YSA (Youth Service America) believes that youth, communities and democracy thrive when we all work together for the common good. YSA is a leading global nonprofit that activates young people, ages 5-25, to find their voice, take action and acquire powerful civic and 21st Century skills as they solve problems facing their communities. YSA supports its activation campaigns – including September 11th National Day of Service & Remembrance, MLK Day of Service, and Global Youth Service Day - with grants, training and resources, and recognition programs for young people and their adult champions. Youth-led projects use Awareness, Service, Advocacy, and Philanthropy (ASAP) strategies to create social and environment change. For more information, visit www.YSA.org.

Source: Youth Service America