As a part of the next phase of Project Resilience, County Executive Ryan announces expanded support for child care programs

KINGSTON, N.Y. - County Executive Pat Ryan is pleased to announce an additional round of Project Resilience child care funds to support school-aged, full-day programs in Ulster County. Project Resilience, with the assistance of United Way, allocated $72,000 in funding to the Center for Creative Education, The Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA, directly supporting scholarships to 218 youth throughout the winter. The scholarships to these programs are vital to keeping local youth in safe and enriching environments with access to the internet and computers and support for their remote learning.

“As a parent, I fully understand the burden that this pandemic has put on our families and youth,” County Executive Ryan said.  “Having a safe place for our children to learn helps to protect the next generation of Ulster County residents while allowing their families to keep their careers on track. I am so grateful for the community’s support for Project Resilience so that we can continue to provide these much-needed services.” 

“Project Resilience has made it possible for us to provide a safe place for youth to go while the parents are at work, with the providing proper role models to guide them through their virtual learning,” Dan Whalen, from the Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club said. “These funds aided us in extending the hours our facility is open and has allowed us to provide a safe place for teens to go in the evening when they are at most at risk.” 

“Keeping our youth nurtured and supported during this pandemic is hugely important for our entire community,” Drew Andrews, Executive Director, Center for Creative Education said. “Thanks to Project Resilience we were able to keep our program running this winter while families still urgently need our help.”

Project Resilience provided support for these programs in the fall and is continuing funding through the winter to support local youth and families impacted by the pandemic through an additional round of funding to Center for Creative Education, The Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA so that they can continue to offer tuition assistance to families in need. 

As the needs of our county evolve over the winter, the County will continue to re-imagine Project Resilience to meet the needs of the Ulster County community. Project Resilience is made possible through partnerships with the United Way and Community Foundations. 

Launched in March, Project Resilience started as a community fund and local food distribution efforts established to support residents impacted by COVID-19. Within 24 hours of its inception, County Executive Ryan secured over $2 million dollars in funding and announced partnerships with municipal governments, local businesses, and not-for-profits. Since launching, Project Resilience has provided nearly 300,000 meals while supporting over 100 small businesses

Donations are accepted here through the United Way of Ulster County. For more information on Project Resilience, please visit: https://covid19.ulstercountyny.gov/project-resilience/

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