Cape Cod Foundation Announces Multi-Year Investment in Y Achievers Program
SOUTH YARMOUTH—The Cape Cod Foundation recently announced a multi-year investment in Y Achievers, a program of the YMCA ¬Cape Cod. From 2018-2020, the Foundation will commit a total of $150,000 to the nonprofit organization to advance its successful Youth Development Program.
“Y Achievers is positively impacting the lives of young people on Cape Cod,” said Kristin O’Malley, President, and CEO of The Cape Cod Foundation. “We are honored to help them enhance and expand the program to reach even more teens.”
According to O’Malley, this multi-year investment is part of the Foundation’s newest initiative, Cape Cod 2020: A New Vision for our Community. The Foundation, in partnership with generous donors, is working to raise $1 million over the next few years to support two critical areas: Youth Development and Nonprofit Organizational Capacity-building.
“We’ve determined the needs in these areas are the greatest, but the current resources in the community are not as strong as they could or need, to be,” O’Malley said. “The Y Achievers Program is our first multi-year investment under this initiative. We will continue to identify and invest in other local organizations that are working to expand their impact in the community.”
“At the Y, youth development means nurturing the potential of every child and teen. We are incredibly grateful for this new partnership with The Cape Cod Foundations’ Vision 2020,” said Stacie Peugh, President, and CEO of YMCA Cape Cod.
The Y Achievers Program focuses on post-secondary education and career exploration. It incorporates five pillars–Academics, College Knowledge, Positive Relationships, Life Skills, and Positive Identity. Y Achievers, ages 12-18, meet weekly with caring, responsible adult role models to learn about different careers, enhance their skills, gain confidence and develop goals and a plan for life beyond high school. The majority of students in the Y Achievers program are the first in their families to go onto post-secondary education.
The program is in its fourth year at Barnstable High School and recently expanded to Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, with continued plans for expansion.