North Georgia Community YMCA receives $3.5 million grant for after school

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Aug. 14, 2024) – Today, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga gathered with North Georgia education officials to celebrate a $3.5 million grant. Awarded by the Georgia Department of Education, the grant will go toward the Y’s after school programs at local elementary schools and will help offset costs.

“Today’s milestone is a testament to the dedication of our North Georgia Y team and their collaboration with our education partners,” said Baron Herdelin-Doherty. “This grant, along with the continued support of local donors, will help us reach our community-wide goal of serving 50% more children and families by 2028.”

The Georgia Department of Education awarded the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CLCC) grant to the North Georgia Community Y in partnership with the local school systems.

“This partnership with the North Georgia Community YMCA will help us bridge the achievement gap, creating meaningful opportunities for parents and families to engage in their children’s education. Our shared goal is to support the whole child by fostering a love for learning, promoting healthy living, and developing strong character,” said Superintendent Chance Nix, Catoosa County Schools.

The Y After School program includes meals and snacks, homework help and academic enrichment as well as youth development activities on health, wellness and character building. The grant helps fund a portion of the costs associated with providing educational and family engagement activities during the academic school year and summer.

“The 21st Century Community Learning Grant will provide our students with additional quality learning opportunities in an after-school setting. Our partnership with the North Georgia Community YMCA is an example of how we can work together with community organizations to ensure a high-quality educational experience for all of our students,” said Superintendent Damon Raines, Walker County Schools.

With community at the center of the grant, the program encourages family engagement and parents’ active participation in their child’s education.

“The grant will go a long way toward helping families in North Georgia and achieving academic goals,” said John Donahoo, district vice president of the North Georgia Community Y. “Because of the grant, we’re able to waive the enrollment fee for participants, which will allow us to focus our efforts on fundraising for the other key parts of our after school program.”

The grant is available for up to 5 years ($700,000 per year) and is dependent on successful implementation as well as the continued availability of federal funds. In partnership with the local school systems, the YMCA secured the grant funding for both Catoosa and Walker counties.

For more information, visit https://www.ymcachattanooga.org/locations/north-georgia-community-ymca. 

About the Y
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga is 150 years old and today serves more than 35,000 people across 80 program sites and 12 counties in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia.  Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit in the U.S., committed to strengthening community for more than 177 years. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide. www.ymcachattanooga.org or ymca.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: YMCA staff, school officials and local education partners gather on Aug. 14, 2024, to celebrate a $3.5 million grant from the Georgia Department of Education, which will expand access to after school in North Georgia elementary schools.

Front Row: Sandy Matheson, Primary Healthcare Center; John Donahoo, District Vice President, North Georgia Community YMCA; Jessica Graham, North Georgia Community YMCA; Amber Hinch, North Georgia Community YMCA; Chelsea Kovalevskiy, Cherokee Regional Library; Penny Mahon, Communities in Schools; Baron Herdelin-Doherty, President and CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga

Back Row: Tripp McCallie, Chief Development Officer/Group Vice-President, YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga; Superintendent Damon Raines, Walker County Schools; Beth Doerr, North Georgia Community YMCA, Emily Bartlett, YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga; Sarah Holmes, Catoosa County Library; Superintendent Chance Nix, Catoosa County Schools; President Amy Jackson, Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce

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