by: Aly Quiroz-Perez, Clerical Assistant

Every student needs to have a fun way to unwind after a long day at school. Some students go straight home and relax by watching television or going online. Others prefer to do something more active and engaging like dance or skateboarding. Whatever the activity, students want and need something fun to do after school where they can socialize and develop a skill or talent in a safe space.

To meet this need, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation offers an After School Program Grant to encourage teachers to create and lead activities for students. Teachers can receive grants of up to $2,500 to cover the costs of equipment, teacher time, and refreshments.

Funding is available during the school year for schools serving 6^th-12^th grade students in the Alum Rock, East Side Union High, Franklin-McKinley, Oakland, and Redwood City schools districts. PVF’s After School Program Grant has already had positive impacts on schools around the Bay Area and the Peninsula. Take a look at what recipients have said about PVF’s program:

 “I want to thank you on behalf of the students and the school for supporting our after school ‘Comet Kickbox Club.’ With this year’s money we were able to buy and replace some pads, buy shirts for everyone involved, and buy a great sound system that has garnered even more attention for the club…the sheer volume has attracted more students to our club because they heard the music playing after school.” – Jeremy Bruce, PE Teacher and Comet Kickbox Club Advisor, James Lick High School, Alum Rock

“Thank you for supporting our afterschool robotics team project. Due to your generous donation, we were able to provide the opportunity of an afterschool 6^th-8^th grade robotics team for girls. The grant allowed the team of 8 students to meet twice weekly for 1.5 hours. They worked under the tutelage of a credentialed teacher, whose stipend was paid by the grant. The students were very enthusiastic to learn and experiment with robotics. We were especially excited that our team this year was comprised of girls. It was our goal to empower more girls to become involved in the robotics programs moving forward.” – Kelly Greenfield, Assistant Principal, North Star Academy, Redwood City

“Thank you for your generous donation to the 5^th Element Hip-Hop Club and After School Program at Oakland High School this year. Your donation has helped over thirty students who share a love for hip-hop choreography, break dancing, and rap music. With the donation, we have been able to purchase costumes for the dancers’ performance, buy equipment for the recording studio, and put on a studio dedication event where students performed and received a T-shirt that is a representation of all the other after school clubs.” – Aya Allen, Hip-Hop club co-sponsor, Oakland High School

“Thank you so much for the financial support that you have given us for our school newspaper. ‘The Observer’ allows the school to feel a sense of community, and it teaches the students who are involved so much – they learn about teamwork, deadlines, and their own strengths and weaknesses. I cannot thank you enough for your help and support throughout the years!” – Teresa Heger, English Teacher, James Lick High School, Alum Rock

“The financial support of the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation afterschool grant made it possible for us to print our first issue of the Castle Crier to much rejoicing. Students grinned as they passed the paper out to afternoon classes, and many students across campus dropped everything and read. Reaction to the first issue was overwhelmingly positive – sparking discussion and interest in journalism from students of all grades.” – Marguerite Sheffer, AP English Language/Castle Crier Adviser, Castlemont High School, Oakland