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Community Corner

Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club Strives to Provide Quality Afterschool Programs

The programs are for children and working parents.

Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club provides essential afterschool care for more than 700 students in the Glen Cove community.  But there are many children from our community that still do no not have access to quality care and are left unsupervised during the afterschool hours while their parents are still at work.  To help our community’s youth and more than 1 million families statewide that lack much-needed access to afterschool programs, the New York State Afterschool Network supports Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget proposing funding that would greatly improve the availability of quality affordable programs.

The Executive Budget proposal – which requires State Legislative approval by the Senate and Assembly – would provide $160 million in funding starting in 2015-16.  The revenues will come from casino fees and the funding will enable more than 100,000 students throughout New York State to have access to afterschool programs.  Afterschool programs not only benefit individual families but the general community as well.  According to parents surveyed in New York City by nyc.gov, parents whose kids have access to afterschool programs were able to work more hours and miss less work.  And, according to afterschoolalliance.org, afterschool programs are effective in reducing violence, theft, vandalism, gang activity and other adolescent crimes which take place during the peak hours of 3 pm and 6 pm.

“We are delighted to hear about the Governor’s support and intentions of funding afterschool programs.  Our Club and our programs are critical to many of our members’ families who can rest assured in knowing that while they are at work, their kids are at a safe and supervised location and receiving educational support, character and leadership building skills, having fun and making friends.  Afterschool programs like ours can make such a huge difference in a child’s life, as we have witnessed over and over again amongst our own members.  We’ve seen our kids improve their grades, become more physically active through sports & fitness programs and participate in positive and productive outlets that they would not have access to otherwise.  The more funding we and our counterparts are able to receive, the more children we can positively impact,” said Melissa Rhodes, Executive Director of Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club.

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New York has a strong foundation of quality programs like the ones that Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club offers which can be scaled up in the coming year if funding is available,” said Nora Niedzielski-Eichner, Executive Director at New York State Afterschool Network.  “Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget proposal contains support for afterschool programs that must be approved in this year’s budget so that families in need of programs have access.”

High quality afterschool programs not only keep students safe while parents are working, but also helps close the achievement gap for low-income students and supports the development of critical thinking and social skills needed for long-term success in the workplace and in life.

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Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club at Lincoln House has been serving the community since 1903 by providing a safe and caring environment that will inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens. The Club serves more than 700 youths, ages 6 to 18, in the Glen Cove community with a variety of after school programs in education, sports and recreation, dance, technology and art, all designed to enrich and enhance learning and build self-esteem.  To learn more about Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club and how you can help support the Club, its mission and service to the youth of the Glen Cove community, please call Melissa Rhodes, Executive Director at 516-671-8030 or visit www.glencovebgc.org.





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