GREENFIELD — The Greenfield YMCA has been awarded a $2,500 grant from Comcast in support of the organization’s Leaders Club, which helps teens make new friends, learn valuable leadership skills and discovery a sense of purpose and self-worth.
“Our YMCA Leaders Club is so pleased with the generosity from Comcast with the donation of $2,500,” said David Garappolo, youth and family director for the Greenfield YMCA. “These funds will be used to provide training and personal growth opportunities for our club members, as well as YMCA staff and community leaders in the future.”
The Leaders Club is a safe haven for local teens to engage in positive activities under the guidance of adult supervisors and mentors. The program, geared toward 12-to-18-year-olds, provides an opportunity for teens to work closely with their peers and YMCA staff to develop leadership training, life skills and personal growth through the planning and organizing of service projects, character building activities and social and recreational programming.
Activities include meetings, developing club goals, fundraising and group outings.
“We’re happy to provide this grant to the Greenfield YMCA,” said Dan Glanville, vice president of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Comcast’s Western New England Region. “Comcast is a big supporter of helping today’s youth to develop into the next generation of leaders and we applaud the program for not only making a difference in the lives of Greenfield area youth, but also the community organizations these participants volunteer with.”
The Leaders Club is also helping to educate members about Comcast’s Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption initiative for qualified low-income families.
Households who have at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program or who receive HUD-housing assistance, including public housing, Housing Choice Voucher and Multifamily programs are eligible for the program, which provides access to low-cost broadband service for $9.95 a month (including a Wi-Fi router).
Participants also can purchase an internet-ready computer for less than $150 and access digital literacy training sessions and materials online, in print and in person.