Powerful hour fuels city youths

By Harold Gwin

Boys & Girls Club shows its academic potential

YOUNGSTOWN — Major improvements in spelling, a huge jump in homework completion and a big increase in school attendance have earned the tutoring program offered by the Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown some national attention.

The program, called Power Hour, was launched in late 2007 with a one-year funding grant of $25,000 from Charity Projects Entertainment/America Gives Back, an offshoot of a $7.5 million fundraising campaign of the “American Idol” television show.

The local club was one of 101 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country selected to participate in the one-year program.

That funding ran out last August, but the local club has been able to continue its efforts because its success resulted in its being selected as one of 21 clubs in a nine-month follow-up evaluation of the Power Hour program, said Robert Marchese, club executive director.

The evaluation comes with a $9,000 grant that is keeping the local program going, he said.

“We’re greatly honored. It’s a tribute to the kids,” Marchese said.

The study is an attempt to identify best tutoring practices and show that Power Hour has a direct, significant and positive impact on the academic success of club members, he said.

Power Hour targets the 6-to-18 age group, providing daily homework assistance and tutoring from 3 to 5:30 p.m. to help improve academic skills. The Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown has about 50 children who are regular participants and a lot of others who are infrequent users of the tutoring assistance.

The program is conducted in a nonthreatening, fun environment offering interactive, age-appropriate activities to reinforce learning, Marchese said.

“None of the kids are mandated to do this,” he said, explaining that participation is voluntary. He said 96 percent of the children are from Youngstown.

“Our staff can feel a sense of accomplishment for the work they continue to put into making learning fun and exciting,” Marchese said. “So many of the children we serve simply do not have access to the resources necessary for successful homework completion, which is critical to their everyday academic success.”

The long-term goal is to instill a lifelong love of learning, he said.

Marchese said he would like to see Power Hour continue after the study funding is gone.

The board of directors has been very supportive of the programming efforts, and the club has been able to get interns from Youngstown State University to assist with tutoring, which means less reliance on paid staff, he said.

He plans to use the study results to show to foundations and other grant sources as the club seeks funding to keep Power Hour running.

“We’re here for the kids. We’ll do what we have to do,” he vowed, adding, “I think it’s crucial. I think it’s important.”

Grant writing helps with club finances, but more than 80 percent of its money comes from gifts from individuals, he said.

gwin@vindy.com