Kids at Hope Supported by Albion-Homer United Way Grant
Substance Abuse Prevention Services Kids at Hope program was awarded a two-year grant by the Albion-Homer United Way to support area youth. The grant is for $5,000 per year to focus on after-school and out-of-school programs for Albion and Homer young people.
According to Harry Bonner the Substance Abuse Prevention Services executive director the AHUW grant will provide partial funding for mentoring, physical fitness activities, leadership development and substance abuse and violence prevention efforts for county young people.
Bonner stated that the grant will further the mission of the organization which states “that every child/youth is afforded the belief, guidance and encouragement that creates a sense of hope and optimism.” He continued that the grant with help “support a course of action needed to experience success in life’s major destinations.”
According to AHUW Executive Director Marcia Starkey this grant is aligned with the mission of the United Way which is to provide “long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening” to help community members “live more whole lives-a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support family through retirement, and good health.” Many of the AHUW grants focus on helping youth to be successful, she said, so they can accomplish future life goals.
Just a few of the youth programs under the umbrella of Kids At Hope that are partially funded through United Way money include: Across Ages Mentoring Program, Mae Ola Dunklin College Access program, Build Albion Fellows Mentoring/Intern program and Kids at Hope Development programs. All of these services benefit Calhoun County youth particularly those from Albion and Homer.
To allow the AHUW to continue to support local organizations Starkey said there are four good reasons to donate to the Albion-Homer United Way. These reasons include that donations fund Albion and Homer specific programs and that funding decisions are made locally. Donor lists are never shared with other agencies and payroll deductions make donating easier.
Donations can be mailed to AHUW PO Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, made on-line at www.albionhomeruw.org/or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563.
Board members are Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, David Diemert, Robert Hawkins, Ryan Hopson, Art Kale, Patrick McLean, Isabell Nazar, Pam Schuler, Gary Tompkins, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson.
Kids at Hope staff and participants joined together last summer for mentoring, physical fitness and leadership development. Future programs like this will be partially funded through a recent grant from the Albion-Homer United Way.