During the 2013-2014 Youth Opportunity Grant Cycle, Episcopal Charities received 39 applications from 27 parishes. During this grant cycle the Advisory Committee recommends board approval of $265,100 in grants averaging $7,364 each to 36 programs representing 26 parishes. .

Following is a breakdown of the grant recommendations by type of program funded.

The joy of creation, the power of expression, the discipline of performance...Young people that participate in our Children’s Arts programs gain invaluable experience and insights.  As funding for in-school arts programs has been trimmed or eliminated, our arts programs are especially valuable for a child’s development.  From youth choirs to musical ensembles, and from theater troupes to arts appreciation classes, the Children’s Arts programs we support build confidence while expanding the horizons of underserved young people throughout New York. 

For all children success in school is central to success in life.  For families in under-resourced communities finding a path to success can be daunting.  That’s where our Children’s Academic Enrichment programs come in.  Our programs comprise a variety of summer, after-school and weekend offerings.  Each takes special care to work with individual students’ unique challenges.  A number of our programs have formal relationships with their local public schools.  In every case our programs work to address the specific educational and tutorial needs of the young people we serve, helping them to build a foundation for future achievement. 

Some of the most memorable experiences of our lifetimes occur during summer vacations.  Hopefully the experiences are positive, leading to exploration and personal development.  That’s what our summer recreation programs provide...meaningful opportunities for growth offered in safe, supportive environments.  Whether it is an inner-city teen learning to steer a canoe at an upstate camp, or a group of Dutchess County children visiting a Manhattan museum for the first time, the Summer Recreation programs that we support recognize the vital nature of discovery, refreshment and fun that promote learning the other nine months of the year.  

Working to build brighter futures for our fellow New Yorkers is at the heart of our mission.  Our Skills Building programs aim to provide the light at the end of the tunnel.  Included in this category are post-prison reentry programs, literacy assistance, youth leadership development and programs for recent immigrants.  Every program works to meet its participants “where they are,” recognizing that every person served is actively seeking a better life…and is willing to work to achieve it.