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Sunday May 11, 2003


By Barbara Kaplinsky


United Way/New Orleans Saints impact grants have provided $100,000 to finance innovative summer programs for children this year.

This is the eighth round of grants. Since its inception, the partnership between United Way and the Saints has contributed $800,000 to grass-roots summer programs, benefiting thousands of children through educational, recreational or cultural summer activities.

Eight Orleans Parish projects designed to provide positive activities for young people have been awarded $52,200, including:

-- Advocates for Science & Math Education: N.O. Center for Science & Math Tech Squad -- $7,000. The tech squad will make "house calls" during the summer to Orleans Parish public schools to set up and repair computers.

-- American Red Cross - Southeast Louisiana Chapter/NORD: Summer Waves -- $15,000. Summer Waves is an expansion of a collaborative effort to enhance water safety and swimming programs that will reach 1,500 children from low-income families in Orleans Parish.

-- Bishop Perry Middle School: 2001 Summer Leadership Camp -- $6,000. The camp is an alternative school for capable but underachieving African-American boys that aims to counter the high risk of crime, drug abuse and low self-esteem with activities aimed at development of leadership and decision-making skills.

-- Boy Scouts of America, Southeast Louisiana Council: Scoutreach Public Housing Program -- $7,000. The program will partner with the New Orleans Recreation Department to provide Scouting opportunities for at-risk children using adult role models, recreational reading and crime-prevention education. The program promotes teamwork and develops boys' conflict resolution and interpersonal skills.

-- Children's Bureau of New Orleans: Peers Educating Peers -- $3,000. The program will provide comprehensive services to children and families impacted by violence, targeting young adolescents who are faced with violence and high-risk environments. After training, peer educators will present programs and workshops to an estimated 300 children at other summer camps and programs throughout the city.

-- Contemporary Arts Center: Summer Art Camp scholarship program -- $3,200. The program will provide experiences in visual arts, movement, theater, spoken word, and music for 300 children between the ages of 7 and 13 years old.

-- New Orleans Ballet Association: NORD-NOBA Center for Dance summer camps -- $7,500. The camp aims to teach about 360 low-income girls determination, setting of goals and problem-solving.

-- Young Leadership Council: Project Prodigy-$3,500. Young Leadership Council: Project Prodigy is a summer music camp that will focus on enriching the skills of 175 Orleans Parish public school students in grades 4-8, while nourishing an appreciation for the arts and building students' confidence in their ability to succeed.

The other Orleans Parish projects that will operate this summer are:

-- Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans: Splash and Learn on the Bayou.

-- Dillard University: Summer Enrichment for Exceptional Children.

-- Girl Scout Council of Southeast Louisiana: GirlSports camping weekend.

-- Girls First: summer camp.

-- GNO Spina Bifida Association: Camp Friendship teen & youth postsecondary and vocational program.

-- K-Bar-B Youth Ranch: Together Everyone Achieves More challenge.

-- Methodist Home for Children: summer camp for victims of child abuse.

-- St. Michael Special School: summer camp.

"At a time when crime is again on the rise, these programs get kids off the streets and offer them positive influences and opportunities," saidArnold Fielkow, the Saints' executive vice president of administration. "Through impact grants, the Saints and United Way help provide quality, safe activities to enhance our communities, nurture strong children and reduce drug abuse and teen pregnancy."