Barclays Spaces for Sports awards $50,000 to Bayview Hunters Point YMCA
February 8, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Barclays Spaces for Sports awards $50,000 to Bayview Hunters Point YMCA for academic and youth sports programs
San Francisco, CA, February 8, 2010 -- Youth in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood are to benefit from an expanded sports and recreation program, designed to boost their academic performance and future prospects.
Thanks to a $50,000 grant from Barclays Spaces for Sports, the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA will now benefit from academic support as part of the new Barclays Spaces for Sports Flag Football Program.
Through the flag football league, youth in the neighborhood will build positive, healthy relationships that will help them develop key skills on and off the field. The YMCA will be able to hire an Academic and Sports Coordinator to bridge the gap between after-school staff and school teachers and administrators, providing the support needed to improve academic performance.
The funding will also enable the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA to accurately measure the impact of pairing a regular sports activity with individualized academic assistance.
“Hundreds of youth will benefit from this generous gift from Barclays Spaces for Sports. Incorporating academic support into our YMCA youth sports programs will enhance the nature of our programs and help our young people build a better future and receive the support they deserve,” said Chuck Collins, President and CEO, YMCA of San Francisco.
A harsh reality is that in Bayview Hunters Point homicide is the leading cause of death for young people. These negative influences, when coupled with the anxiety they may feel from their parents, can create unhealthy and challenging living environments for young people.
Barclays Spaces for Sports is a community sports programme which aims to revitalize disadvantaged communities and tackle key social issues. As well as 200 sites in the UK, there are sites and projects in other parts of the world where Barclays operates, including South Africa, Spain and Zambia. A site was also opened in 2008 at East Side Charter School in Wilmington, Delaware, for the benefit of the wider community as well as pupils.
Hannah Willis, Associate Director, Global Community Investment at Barclays said: "We're delighted to be announcing a further project in the United States as part of the global Barclays Spaces for Sports programme. We know from the 200 sites created in the UK and other sites and projects developed as part of the global programme, that sport is a powerful tool to engage young people so that they can then develop their academic and life skills."
A number of young people will benefit from academic support (including tutoring and counselling) and will be connected to after-school academic programs available at the YMCA.
The funding will also allow for expanded outreach and recruitment opportunities with a focus for girls to become more actively involved in the benefits of team sports. Such benefits include team-building, listening, smart decision-making and developing peer leadership skills to build confidence and develop transferable life skills.
For more information contact:
David Smith, Barclays: +44 (0)207 116 6142 / +44 (0)7775 543294
About the YMCA of San Francisco
For more than 150 years, the YMCA of San Francisco has provided comprehensive programs and services to meet the diverse needs of the Bay Area. Through its 14 locations from Marin to the Santa Cruz Mountains, the YMCA’s programs span the generations to build individuals with healthy spirits, minds and bodies. From swim classes and health programs to senior activities and job readiness training, the YMCA of San Francisco provides the resources that each neighborhood needs in a local community center.
About Barclays Spaces for Sports
• Barclays Spaces for Sports is a community sports programme using sport to revitalise disadvantaged communities in countries around the world where Barclays operates.
• It was launched in the UK in 2004 and has delivered 200 sustainable sports sites, giving more than half a million people in disadvantaged communities the opportunity to benefit.
• Following its success in the UK the programme was extended globally in 2008, bringing the total investment by Barclays to more than £37m. Additional investment of more than £30m from our partners the Football Foundation brings the overall total to more than £67m.
• Sites and projects are already established in South Africa, the United States, Spain and Zambia.
• Barclays Spaces for Sports is part of Barclays global community programme which invested more than £50m across more than 30 countries in 2008.
• To find out more visit www.barclays.com/community/spacesforsports
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