Jana Marie Foundation to bolster summer programs, after-school clubs with $300K grant
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Jana Marie Foundation received a $300,000 grant under PCCD's VIP and BOOST programs.
- The grant will provide eight weeks of no-cost summer camp and multiple after‑school clubs.
- The funding is expected to serve approximately 500 youth annually in Centre County.
Just over a year after moving into its new home, the Jana Marie Foundation has landed a massive grant that’s expected to serve several hundred children and adolescents.
The $300,000 grant, which was announced Thursday in a release by State Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, was awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency as part of its Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) and Building Opportunities through Out‑of‑School Time (BOOST) funding framework.
The funding will expand the nonprofit’s free summer camps and after‑school clubs that promote mental wellness, positive peer connection and safe, structured engagement for children and adolescents.
“We are deeply grateful for this funding, which allows us to expand our no-cost summer camps and after-school programs to reach even more young people in our community,” foundation founder and President Marisa Vicere said in the release. “This investment strengthens our commitment to promoting mental health awareness and building resilience in our community’s youth.”
According to the release, the foundation will use the grant to serve about 500 youth annually, providing eight weeks of summer camp and multiple after‑school clubs for upper‑elementary through high‑school students. Programming will emphasize mindfulness, coping skills, creative expression, movement, team building and social‑emotional learning.
Some of these summer camps include the Explore Summer Camp, which provides sixth- through 12th-grade students with a “fun, interactive journey that enhances connection with self and others through creative techniques, games and service,” and the Explore Jr. Summer Camp, which is geared toward fourth and fifth graders.
Some of the after-school clubs include the Shine Club, which provides middle school-aged girls and nonbinary students with tools and techniques for building resiliency and self-confidence; Thrive Time, which focuses on building confidence, community and communication through a variety of crafts and games for sixth, seventh and eighth graders, and more.
“This investment will help expand critical supports for Centre County youth,” Takac said in a written statement. “These programs give young people the tools they need to build emotional strength, connect with caring adults and thrive in school and in life.”
For more information on the Jana Marie Foundation, its summer camps and after-school clubs, visit the nonprofit’s website at JanaMarieFoundation.org.