The Charter One Foundation has recently given the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago a $100,000 grant, which will go to the organization’s Community Schools Program.
The grant money will go to nine community schools in the Chicago area and makes Charter One the top partner of the YMCA’s Community School’s Initiative. Since 2008, the bank’s foundation has given more than $300,000 to the group’s schools program.
“Recent headlines underscore the importance of having programs like YMCA’s Community Schools available for Chicago’s children,” Steve Dahlin, interim president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, said. “We are extremely grateful for Charter One’s corporate leadership through their generous grant.”
The Community School’s Program works in partnership with the Chicago Public School system with the goal of helping children in underserved areas in the metropolitan area. Some of the areas the partnership has focused on include academic performance, increasing student attendance and improving the health of children in the area.
Some of the activities provided by the program include writing workshops, help with homework, group counseling, teacher development, social and emotional learning, and workshops involving parents and the community.
More than 2,100 children who face poverty have been aided by the Community Schools Program. Through its partnership with Charter One, the program was extended during 2008 to include the summer months.
The schools that will benefit from the donation from Charter One include: Kipp: Ascend Charter School; the LEARN Charter School; the Libby Community School; the Morton School of Excellence; the Murray Language Academy; the Oglesby Elementary School; the Robert H. Lawrence Elementary School; the Ryerson Community School; and the Whistler Community School.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago has been a part of the area community for over 150 years. In 2008, the organization raised $84,880,310 in total public support and revenue.
