Evanston’s Youth & Opportunity United today was awarded a $100,000 grant by the New York Life Foundation.
The grant was among the largest the foundation is making this year to a total of 34 programs nationwide.
The grants, part of the foundation’s Aim High program, are intended to support middle school youth during out-of-school time.
The program seeks to help underserved 8th-graders reach the 9th grade on time and prepared for high school level work. The grant-making decisions were advised by the Afterschool Alliance.
The grant will support Youth & Opportunity United’s Partnership for Middle School Success by expanding its middle-to-high school bridge program in Evanston and supporting the launch of a middle-to-high school bridge program in Skokie.
“We’re thrilled to be a recipient of this important grant which will greatly impact the lives of the youth and families that we serve,” said Maggie Blinn DiNovi, CEO of Youth & Opportunity United. “We are grateful for the generous support of the New York Life Foundation and for their efforts in helping us in supporting youth in our community.”