Boys and Girls Club benefits from $25K grant

Jaylynn Powell enjoys spending time in the tutoring room of the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown every day after school.

“We do educational games,” she said, explaining that the tutoring sessions are much more than just listening to a teacher talk.

She’s been working primarily on her reading and math, said the sixth grader at Eagle Heights Academy, adding that the effort is paying off.

Jaylynn said she got two “Bs” and three “As” on her last report card.

Tutoring is a relatively new program offered by the club, which can no longer be considered just a social and athletic facility, said Robert Marchese, executive director.

The program, called “Power Hour” was launched just five months ago and was coupled with the renovation of two learning centers at the club at 2105 Oak Hill Ave. The club saw the need and created a program to address it, Marchese said.

The effort got a significant boost with the recent announcement of a $25,000 grant from Charity Projects Entertainment Fund/Idol Gives Back, money that Marchese said will be used to pay the tutoring staff and buy newer and better educational materials.

The club has two full-time staff members who are certified teachers running the tutoring program, along with assistance from other staff members. In addition to homework help, the staff offers age-appropriate activities to stimulate interest in learning.

See complete story in Tuesday's Vindicator and on vindy.com.