PHILADELPHIA – The Shapiro-Davis Administration is continuing to deliver for Pennsylvania kids and working families, with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis stopping by the Northeast Frankford Boys & Girls Club in Philadelphia last week to announce more than $11 million in state grants for 46 afterschool programs across the Commonwealth.
The new afterschool funding initiative — called the BOOST or “Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time” program — is part of the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s comprehensive approach to addressing gun violence and making Pennsylvania communities safer.
At the event, Davis, who grew up going to a Boys & Girls Club in his hometown of McKeesport, received an honorary lifetime membership from the Pennsylvania Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, which is receiving a $1.5 million grant to expand statewide out-of-school time services for at-risk youth at 12 affiliated clubs.
Here’s what local leaders are saying …
State Rep. (and Boys & Girls Club alum) Jason Dawkins:
“This was a safe haven for kids like myself. And it’s important that we talk about gun violence as one of the metrics of why we want to have this funding in place.”
State Rep. and House Afterschool Caucus Co-chair Elizabeth Fiedler:
The “first-of-its-kind” funding would “make it possible to bring kids off waitlists and into afterschool programs, retain highly trained professionals and invest in our collective future.”
State Sen. Christine Tartaglione:
“This BOOST funding is a comprehensive approach to addressing gun violence, building safer neighborhoods and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
State Sen. Lisa Boscola:
“Afterschool programs such as those at St. Anthony’s and the Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem and of Easton improve academic performance, improve social skills and provide a place for children to have fun in a safe setting. Without these programs many children would be unsupervised and there would be a much higher risk of engaging in risky behaviors.”
State Rep. Josh Bashline, on a BOOST grant for Keystone Smiles Community Learning Center:
“This tremendous center does wonderful work for students in Clarion County. I am pleased to see this crucial funding allocated to continue the mission of helping students who it most.”
State Rep. Clint Owlett, on a BOOST grant for the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health:
“After-school programs are so valuable, especially to working families who need care for their children beyond the standard school day. I applaud the Partnership for providing this resource and especially for making good use of this time to help students both academically and emotionally.”
Read more:
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania approves $56.5 million for violence prevention programs
City & State Pennsylvania: Afterschool Special: Lt. Gov. Davis pushes statewide program in North Philadelphia
Philadelphia Tribune: In Philly visit, Lt. Gov. Davis announces state grants for afterschool programs
Philadelphia Inquirer: Pa. is spending $11 million to expand after-school programs, from Philly to Downingtown
Keystone Newsroom: Shapiro administration distributes $11 million in afterschool programs for underserved communities
ExploreVenango: Keystone Smiles Learning Center $214k state grant to expand afterschool programs
WKOK: Significant grant for Selinsgrove REC
Valley Ledger: Boscola announces over $1.1 million in state grants for afterschool and violence prevention programs
WETM: Wellsboro nonprofit gets $250,000 for after-school programs
WTAJ: Cambria County school district awarded $250k for out of school program
WJET: Erie organizations awarded $4.2 million in grants supporting youth programs