A $168,351 grant from Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City ensures SAFE BASE will continue to provide tutoring and academic and physical enrichment for USD 257 elementary students through the 2010-11 school year.
The grant officially was announced Friday morning, although it is $114,000 less than what originally was sought. But, said Angela Henry, SAFE BASE director, “we’re delighted. It was a difficult year and we’re fortunate to have gotten what we did.”
The foundation received 67 grant applications and funded 27, wholly or in part.
Henry said it wasn’t until Friday morning that she was sure there would be sufficient money to carry the program through next school year, the 11th for SAFE BASE. Initially, it was unclear how the funding would break out, and whether all would go to keep SAFE BASE alive or if part would go for more aggressive summer activities. As is, three weeks of summer programming is planned.
Henry will meet with Dr. Craig Neuenswander, superintendent of schools, Monday to finalize the SAFE BASE budget for 2010-11. It then will be forwarded to the foundation, but, she added, “we now are certain that the program will continue another year.”
Vegetable gardening, in cooperation with the Elm Creek Community Garden, will be a central theme for next year’s SAFE BASE, with emphasis on physical activities and nutrition.
Summer session activities start June 7. Henry noted enrollment remained open and that activities, all free, were open to K-8 students in USD 257 schools. Late enrollment may be done by calling the SAFE BASE office, 365-4780.
SAFE BASE a ‘go’ for 2010-11
