NEWS and Updates
GOV. NIXON AWARDS $195,897 TO ST LOUIS COMMUNITY CENTER
May 20, 2010
See the complete story as shown on KSDK.
Gov. Nixon awards $195,897 to St. Louis community center to help fund programs for at-risk youth
Kingdom House to direct funds to after school, summer day camp, employment skills development and youth development programs
ST. LOUIS – Gov. Jay Nixon visited a St. Louis community center for at-risk youth today and announced the award of $195,897 in incentives to the center, which will help fund various programs for area young people, especially in the areas of job training, placement and counseling. The Governor made the announcement of Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) tax credits at Kingdom House, which provides programming for St. Louis City youth ages 6 to 21 that promotes positive growth and development.
"An investment in Missouri’s children is an investment in our future,” Gov. Nixon said. "We are pleased to support the work of Kingdom House with these Youth Opportunity Program incentives, which will assist the center’s delivery of important programs and resources that meet the needs of the area’s at-risk youth, especially by helping them prepare for meaningful, rewarding careers. By assisting quality community centers like Kingdom House as they carry out their crucial mission,we can ensure that more Missouri young people have a pathway to rewarding, successful careers.”
Kingdom House will use the YOP tax credits to help fund its programs for approximately 650 at-risk youth, including:
· Teen and Young Adult Development Programs, targeted to approximately 80 low-income youth ages 13 to 21 who receive instruction in employment skills training, paid internships, financial literacy, college preparatory skills, health and nutrition, drug and alcohol prevention and healthy relationships;
· After school Programming, serving approximately 100 low-income youth ages 6 to 14, which includes homework assistance, tutoring, computer instruction, financial literacy, drug education, literacy, health and nutrition instruction, character education, and violence prevention instruction;
· Summer Day Camp, serving approximately 170 low-income youth ages 6 to 14, which includes literacy, drug education, computer instruction, health and nutrition information, fitness activities, and non-violence education; and
· Organized Youth Sports Program which serves approximately 300 youth year round.
Kingdom House is a neighborhood social service center that has been serving residents of the Near South side of St. Louis since 1902.Related to the United Methodist Church and a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis , Kingdom House offers a variety social service programs, including child day care, after school and summer youth programs, elderly outreach services, a thrift shop and food pantry relief services, and job training and placement for youth and adults , in collaboration with the Near South side Employment Coalition (NSEC).
The Youth Opportunities Program, administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED), serves to broaden and strengthen opportunities for positive development and participation in community life for youth, and to discourage such persons from engaging in criminal and violent behavior.
YOP tax credits are allocated to organizations administering positive youth development or crime prevention projects that have been approved through an application process. Approved organizations secure contributions from their community, and the contributor receives tax credits for those contributions. For more information, visit MO.gov and search for "Youth Opportunity Program.”
For more information about Kingdom House, visit www.kingdomhouse.org, or all 314-421-0400 for Jennifer March at ext. 210 or Kay Tabscott at ext. 230.
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