Weekly Media Roundup: April 27, 2022

Cut-A-Thon Helps Raise Money for Instruments for Youth, WTVQ (Kentucky)

The Lexington Leadership Foundation in Kentucky hosted a haircut-a-thon at its Woodhill Community Center facility to raise money for its afterschool and summer programs. “We want our kids to know that they can lead right now at their age, so we want to just pour into them and just access their talents by way of arts, athletics, and academics,” Lexington Leadership Foundation’s communication director Michael Overstreet told WTVQ. With the additional funding, the Foundation plans to purchase new musical instruments for their Urban Impact afterschool and summer programs.

Coalition for Kids Expanding into Washington County Schools, WJHL (Tennessee)

The Coalition for Kids afterschool program in Johnson City, Tennessee, makes fun a top priority for students as they learn new science, technology and art skills. Thanks to a new partnership with Washington County Schools, Coalition for Kids will be able to offer its afterschool program to the eleven county schools within the next three years. “This is certainly a wonderful partnership looking to the future as we plan to make that move to ensure that there’s that high-quality afterschool program at all of our schools,” Washington County Schools Superintendent Jerry Boyd told WJHL.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tarrant County Gets Big Surprise, The Dallas Morning News (Texas)

Last week, Bridgestone Retail Operations surprised the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County in Texas with a brand-new van to serve students who lack transportation to afterschool programs. The Club will use the donated van to deliver meals and provide fun, educational activities to more students through its Mobile Clubhouse and Mobile Meals programs. “After-school activities help young people develop crucial life skills and thrive far into the future,” Marko Ibrahim, president of Bridgestone Retail Operations, told the Dallas Morning News. “Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County is a pillar in this community, and we look forward to seeing how expanded transportation can make an even greater difference in the lives of club youth and families.”

TPS Preparing for Day Camp-Style Summer School, Tulsa World (Oklahoma)

This summer, Tulsa Public School students will dance, play basketball and tennis, learn to cook, create art, take part in debate, do yoga, and develop their reading and math skills in a robust summer learning program. The district’s “Ready. Set. Summer!” program is free thanks in part to federal funding from the American Recue Plan. More than 11,00 students participated last summer. “Our goal is not only to provide educational opportunities but also relationship building and fun enrichment activities,” Coordinator Twanna Johnson told Tulsa World. “We want these kids to get to do something they can engage in beyond the summer.”