Kids’ Club was founded in 2009, when members of the Class of 2023 were just 3-4 years old.
What an impact 14 years of Kids’ Club’s support has made on their lives!
Consider the representative stories below of two fictional Sleepy Hollow High School seniors and their journeys from early childhood to college. Each of the bolded programs has received funding from Kids’ Club. These composite examples illustrate how your generosity has helped provide opportunity and enrichment for hundreds of our actual neighbors each year.
– “David” was born in Sleepy Hollow. When he starts school, his family’s income qualifies him for free lunch, but at home The Community Food Pantryhelps put food on his table.
– When David is 4, his parents are looking for work. They are excited to learn that the Village of Tarrytown offers scholarships to Tot Camp so that David has a safe place to have fun over the summer while they interview.
– David’s parents have both secured work outside the home, but they need help with after school childcare. At age 7, David joins RSHM LIFE Center’s Learning Lab where he spends his afternoons completing his homework, strengthening his math skills, and making friends. He also attends Summer Camp there.
– At Washington Irving School, David is introduced to the trumpet and loves it. He practices often, but knows that it will take more to get him to the next level of proficiency. He wishes he could take private music lessons as some of his classmates do. When he turns 12, David is invited to participate in MusicWorks, where he receives free one-on-one trumpet instruction.
– Now in ninth grade, David has aged out of the LIFE Center, but still craves summer recreation and enrichment. He hears that Sleepy Hollow’s Teen Travel Camp offers scholarships to eligible residents. He signs up and has a great time going on supervised day trips to ball games and water parks with his friends.
– David never thought his family could afford to send him to college. But Latino U College Access’s FAFSA Information Session and Boot Campshow him how college can be a part of his future. With his strong math and music skills, David is a desirable applicant to many great colleges. A Kids’ Club Scholarship helps him defray college expenses at the school he ultimately picks. He is on his way!
– “Ana,” a native Spanish speaker, moves to Tarrytown at age 3. Her family enrolls in the AFHT Early Literacy Program where they learn English and become familiar with the school district.
– Ana has a good year in kindergarten, but her teachers think she could use extra help with reading over the summer so that she can start first grade strong. She is offered a spot in The Foundation’s Summer Literacy Program, and is able to improve her reading skills by two levels.
– At age 8, Ana enjoys school even more now that she is an avid reader. She also loves dancing. To her delight, she is able to take reduced price modern dance classes three times a week at Rivertown Dance Academy. Her mother finds a variety of suitable dance clothes for Ana at Horsemen PTA’s Community Wardrobe and takes them home at no cost.
– At 11 years old, Ana wants to continue to pursue her interest in the arts over the summer break, but her family cannot afford to pay the full rate for a camp program. Fortunately, Ana is able to participate in TUFSD’s Summer Arts Camp on a scholarship.
– She does not have a computer at home, but thanks to “Warner is Wired for Homework,” Ana uses a laptop and iPad in Warner Library’s teen area when her homework requires it. She gets her best grades yet!
– Ana is the first in her family to apply to college. With guidance from TUFSD’s Application Ready!, she writes her college essay, considers financial aid opportunities and tours schools of interest. She gets into a college she is excited to attend, and enjoys shopping for dorm room bedding with the gift cards she receives from Kids’ Club’s Breakfast for Bedding!
