Pennsylvania is investing $11.5 million in afterschool programs through the BOOST program, short for Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time.
This investment, part of the 2024-2025 state budget, is managed by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).
The BOOST program aims to help kids by funding programs that offer tutoring, sports, art, and safe spaces to grow and learn.
The announcement happened at the Boys & Girls Club in Northeast Philadelphia.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, along with other leaders, explained how these programs give kids opportunities to stay safe and engaged after school.
BOOST will support 46 Pennsylvania projects, focusing on leadership, education, recreation, and healthy activities.
Davis said every $1 spent on afterschool programs gives back $6.69 in benefits, which shows their value.
Because there’s such a big demand for these programs, many children remain on waiting lists.
Four more are waiting for a spot for every child in an afterschool program due to limited funding.
Nearly 300 groups applied for BOOST funding this year, asking for $65 million, but only $11.5 million was available.
The Pennsylvania Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and the Pennsylvania State Alliance of YMCAs were the big recipients, each receiving $1.5 million.
Smaller groups, such as Hopebound Ministries in Allegheny County and Tree House Books in Philadelphia, also received grants to help children in their communities.
At the announcement, a high school student, Maya Johnson, shared her story.
She’s been attending the Boys & Girls Club for over 10 years.
When she was younger, it was a safe place to work on homework and reading.
Now, as a high schooler, she’s learning job skills and leadership through their programs.
Leaders like Representative Elizabeth Fiedler and Senator Christine Tartaglione praised the BOOST program for helping kids and families, promising to keep fighting for more funding so that children could benefit even more in the future.
Additionally, BOOST is part of a larger plan to reduce gun violence across the state.
As Davis pointed out, guns are the number one cause of death for young people in the U.S., and programs like BOOST help keep kids safe and off the streets.
PCCD approved $56.5 million this year for 113 other projects to reduce violence and support young people, including mentoring programs, neighborhood safety initiatives, and community outreach programs to protect and guide youth.
Since taking office, the Shapiro-Davis Administration has made gun violence prevention a priority.
They’ve reestablished the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, held listening sessions with over 800 Pennsylvanians, and secured millions of dollars for community programs.
BOOST funding is going to organizations all over the state, from large ones like the Boys & Girls Clubs to smaller local groups.
Programs like BOOST, in fact, play a much bigger role than solely helping kids—they can also create safer, stronger communities.
Pennsylvania’s investment in these programs is an investment in the future, giving youth the chance to learn, grow, and succeed.
