PRESS RELEASE - November 3, 2022

YMCA of Silicon Valley Receives 1.2M from Representative Zoe Lofgren to Support Early Learning Readiness 

October 24 2022, the YMCA of Silicon Valley graciously accepted $1.2M in government funding from congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. The funds will be used to expand after-school and early learning readiness programs, in more underserved communities around the San Jose and South County areas. 

Jim Hori, CEO and President of the YMCA of Silicon Valley reiterated this in his comments: “This could not come at a more critical time. Inequity in our educational system is a real problem. Over 2.4 million students across our state are on waitlists for pre-K and after school programs, especially those from low-income households”.

The grant will go a long way in expanding the YMCA of Silicon Valley’s impact in the community. Last year alone, the association served over 5,300 young adults with academic enrichment support, equipping caregivers with critical youth development skills. This grant would go to supporting early learning readiness programs for pre-K aged kids. At the Y, these programs actively engage parents and caregivers in their children’s education. Also, it will provide school aged youth with supervised, constructive extracurricular activities, with new enhanced anti-substance abuse and anti-tobacco curriculum. This is particularly critical after school, between the hours 3 to 6 p.m. when 1 in 5 kids in the U.S. are alone and unsupervised. These are the hours when juvenile crime and drug use peak—and many parents are still at work.

We are extremely grateful to Rep. Lofgren and her dedication to communities in the 19th District. This federal funding will allow our Y to support even more vulnerable youth and families and help us build resilience among our youth and actively promote family engagement.

About YMCA of Silicon Valley
YMCA of Silicon Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, YMCA of Silicon Valley serves 250,000 members and participants — regardless of age, income or background — by nurturing the potential of children and teens, improving health and well-being, and providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors. For more information, visit: www.ymcasv.org/about.