Thanks to the Shoreline YMCA and the Glaser Foundation, Kellogg Middle School has received $13,000 to continue its Hang Time program through the end of the school year.
Only a month ago, the free after-school program was in danger of being cut after losing the 21st Century federal grant Kellogg had used in previous years.
The school was not eligible to reapply for the federal grant, which is given in three-year increments, because the grant’s requirement for the number of students who receive free or reduced lunches has been raised to 40 percent. Typically, 20 percent of Kellogg’s students receive the discount.
According to school officials, the program costs an average of $108,000 per year. On average, 90 to 100 students have been involved with Hang Time every day for the last three years.
“It’s great, and we’re having partner meeting and are supported by our community,” Kellogg principal Lori Longo said.
Terry Pollard, executive director of the Shoreline YMCA, said they noticed the need for continued funding, and put in a grant request to the Glaser Foundation.
“We have a strong partnership with the school to run the program … We knew it was set to expire, and our board had some contacts at the Foundation and felt it was a good match,” Pollard said. “As a partner we are trying to do our part to ensure that this program will continue.”
Both Longo and Pollard said they have similar plans to find funding for Hang Time for the next school year.
“We’re working on it, and at this point in time we’re still looking at possible resources,” Longo said. “We won’t qualify for federal funding so we’ll be looking toward private foundations, such as YMCA and other networks.”
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