Dollar General Supports Local Boys & Girls Club with $5,000 Grant
December 28th, 2009 by News Release
Emphasizing Literacy: Local KidzLit Program to Receive $5,000 Grant
Monticello educators, mentors, volunteers, and parents are putting an extra emphasis on literacy skills to help America’s youth beat the odds and graduate. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is no different. With generous support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, BGCA has teamed up with Developmental Studies Center to implement AfterSchool Kidzlit, a proven reading enrichment program for young people in grades K-8th.
Boys & Girls Club of Monticello is one of 18 organizations across the country selected to benefit from essential after-school educational assistance that emphasizes literacy. Each Club is receiving a $5,000 program implementation grant and an AfterSchool KidzLit kit, including grade-and age appropriate books and leader’s guides. In August, Boys & Girls Club of Monticello, Kimberly Steen AmeriCorp member joined representatives from selected sites in Atlanta for intensive training led by Lissette Resto-Brooks, an instructor for Developmental Studies Center.
“It was a great opportunity to learn first-hand the key components of the program and to share ideas with staff of other Clubs who will be implementing the program,” said Steen. “I’m excited about the difference this program will have on our community. It has the potential to make a positive impact on the young people we serve by increasing their appreciation for and enjoyment of high-quality children’s literature.”
Studies have shown that quality after school programs result in long term, life-changing lessons, including improved social skills, increased academic performance and a more positive attitude toward learning. The AfterSchool KidzLit approach is one where youngsters hear and read stories filled with relevant, multicultural characters, settings and issues. It helps them to think and speak about critical social and ethical values. KidzLit’s primary activity is reading, but it also includes discussions and other fun, interactive activities through which participating young people explore more deeply the themes and content of the books and gain a better understanding of themselves and others. “Reading and studying outside of school is critical to the learning process,” said Dave Bere, Dollar General’s president and chief strategy officer, and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation president. The “Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support Boys & Girls Clubs to ensure children have the literacy skills they need to build a strong foundation for academic success.”
“Reading scores among America’s youth, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, continue well below what they should be,” said BGCA President and CEO Roxanne Spillett. “Without a solid foundation in reading, how can we ever expect America’s young people to reach their full academic potential? Thes why we are so grateful to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for helping us bring a wonderful reading enrichment program to our Club members.”
The Boys & Girls Club is located at 175 Henley Drive and provides program opportunities for approximately 50 boys and girls each year. The Club is open Monday-Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Youths interested in joining the Club may contact the Boys & Girls Club at 870-367-2334.
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