Grantee Spotlight – Parkesburg POINT
The Parkesburg POINT’s mission is to empower youth and families to live victoriously by offering a safe, engaging, and spirit-filled environment. The POINT partners with 20+ local churches and over 270 volunteers to provide400+at-risk youth, ages 8-18 with a variety of after-school, evening, and summer programs designed to help them thrive physically, academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. The POINT’s 33,000+ sq./ft. facility provides ample space to implement the following core programs/activities: Academic Enrichment, Nutrition, Recreation, Hands-On-Training, Art, Bible Studies, Boys’/Girls’ Nights, Leaders in Training, Success Club, and Crisis & Compassion. In a recent survey of core students, 98% said they feel safe, supported and cared for at The POINT, 76% said they feel more motivated academically, 59% improved literacy skills, and 77% plan to enroll in college or a tech school post-high school. Additionally, 84% feel more confident, 76% improved self-esteem, and 76% made new friends. And finally, 55% of students are getting in trouble less, over 92% said The POINT helps them avoid alcohol and drugs, and 83% said The POINT helps them avoid skipping/dropping out of school.