The Board of Directors of the Stillwater Area Foundation (SAF) has just awarded a grant of $2,000 to Youth Advantage, a nonprofit organization in Stillwater that provides access to arts, athletics and educational enrichment experiences to the children of financially-challenged parents or guardians who live in the boundaries of School District 834.
Chair of the SAF Board Maria Reamer says that Youth Advantage makes existing opportunities available for youth who otherwise would not be able to participate in extracurricular programs.
Founding Executive Director of Youth Advantage, Suzanne Burnett Block, says that the program was started in 2009 when she noticed that there was a lack of out-of-school-time opportunities for the children of financial-challenged families. Youth Advantage staff work with the families to match the children’s interests and needs with available programs. Typically, Youth Advantage funds are matched by the organization providing the activity. Youth Advantage has worked with a number of community partners including: 4-H, Belle Ballet, Dayspring Suzuki Studio, District 834 Community Education, Oak Glen Junior Golf, St. Croix Rec Center’s Learn to Skate and Hockey Startup, and many more.
Board Chair Reamer said that the Board of the Foundation was pleased to be able to support such a worthwhile and innovative program for Stillwater area youth.
The Stillwater Area Foundation was founded in July, 2010 as an Affiliated Foundation of the St. Croix Valley Foundation. It is one of ten such Affiliates and exists to serve the local communities of Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Bayport and Marine on St. Croix.