VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A local organization is sharing the impact a current federal funding freeze could have on kids across the country, with more than $6 billion in federal grants for after-school and summer programs currently being withheld, done to ensure the grants align with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
Kevin Will, president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia, explained after-school care is in jeopardy at clubs nationwide because of this.
“After-school to kids is just as important as the academic day to make sure that they’re growing, that they’re developing,” Will said.
He said Boys and Girls Clubs offers this after-school care.
“We see these kids directly after school,” he said. “They come, they get a healthy meal and a snack. And then we go straight into homework assistance. We go into our programming areas, whether that’s good decision-making, whether that’s art, whether that’s STEM or whether that’s healthy lifestyles in their, not only physical wellbeing, but their mental wellbeing.”
During the funding freeze, Will said what is at stake for Boys and Girls Clubs across the country is the 21st Century Community Learning Center funds. If this funding is lost, Will said that the organization as a whole could close 1,000 locations nationwide.
“There would be a chance of 14 … Boys and Girls Clubs closing throughout Virginia,” Will said.
However, he said that the southeast Virginia clubs would not close.
“We will do everything in our power to make sure that our kids are thriving and that we’re here for our families and our community,” Will said.
He reiterated that after-school care is pivotal for the success of youth everywhere.
“My hope with this issue is that it really shines a light on the importance of after-school, of having a productive place to go grow,” Will said, “and really, giving each kid an equal access to succeed is, to me, it’s really shining a light on the importance of that.”
