MAYOR’S YOUTH INITIATIVE AWARDS $100,000 TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
(5/14/2007) 13 New Haven Organizations Receive Grants for Youth Programming
NEW HAVEN- Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. announced today that 13 community-based organizations in New Haven would collectively receive $100,000 in grants for youth programming. Together, the 13 programs will be able to serve nearly 400 additional young people throughout the City with the help of the Mayor’s Youth Initiative Capacity Building Grants.
In a press conference held at the YMCA Youth Center today, one of the 13 awardees, Mayor DeStefano congratulated recipients and thanked them for their dedication to the City’s young people. “We are working diligently in City Hall to implement strategies that support our youth, contribute toward their academic and social development and help to provide safe, healthy and enriching opportunities that will help them maximize their potential,” said DeStefano.
“These grants are only part of what my Youth Initiative focuses on to promote excellence amongst our City’s young people. Together, as a community we can make major inroads in decreasing youth crime, increasing academic excellence and achieving safer and more welcoming neighborhoods. Our partnership with these 13 organizations and so many other groups in the City that do great work for our children is essential in fulfilling our goals. I commend all of our grant recipients and thank them for their contributions.”
DeStefano also announced year-round funding for youth programming in the City. The next wave of grants will be awarded in July with a request for proposals due out to the public next month. The next wave of grants will award upwards of $200,000 to fund selected proposals.
Pierette Silverman, Coordinator of Youth Services and Special Projects for the City lead the selection committee for the Mayor’s Youth Initiative grants and will work on the year-long expansion of the program. “The review committee was pleased that the allocation of funds would go to support both established organizations as well as young entities that are providing innovative and interesting programs for our young people,” said Silverman. “We wanted to make certain these funds would touch all neighborhoods and that the variety of programs from theatrical activities, to children's nutrition to support services for homeless youth would show the gamut of programs available in our community.”
The list of Award Recipients, award amounts and intended use of funds is as follows:
Agency Award Use of Funds
Alliance Theatre 10,000 Literacy and Leadership through Drama
Bregamos Community Theatre 13,289 Technical Theatre Workshops
Hill Health Corporation 11,878 KAMP EBERGY
Hispanos Unidos 5,000 Summer program
Mod Squad Drill Team 4,000 Drill team/drum core equipment
Nation Drill Team 4,000 Drumming Equipment
New Haven Youth Soccer 5,500 Outreach, translation of marketing materials to Hispanic population
NH Reads Community Book Bank 5,500 Algebra, Pre-SAT workshops, tutoring
St Lukes Services Inc. 3,333 Summer camp
Schooner Inc 5,000 Scholarships
Uniting Our Youth 2,500 Environmental program materials
YMCA 20,000 Youth memberships, Girls Support Group, Community Service Program, Summer Arts Program,
Youth Continuum 10,000 Staffing needs
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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga
Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net
Contact Phone: 203-946-7660
