HYDE PARK — The Hyde Park Neighborhood Club has established a $50,000 scholarship fund to help pay for after-school programs amid ongoing state budget crisis.
Through the Elizabeth Louise Smith Fund and other private donors, the community center at 5480 S. Kenwood Ave. has raised enough to provide ongoing support for the 40 percent of kids who receive some assistance.
“One of the core values of HPNC — for the organization as a whole and for our after-school program in particular — is that we want every child to be able to participate, regardless of income,” Executive Director Sarah Diwan said.
She said the center started aggressively raising money in the summer when Gov. Bruce Rauner announced cuts to after-school programming, which have since been reversed.
“We are more than glad that the cuts to [the Illinois Action for Children program] were reversed, but we are even happier that we now have a cushion that will allow us to offer a helping hand to our families should other threats arise in the future,” Diwan said.
The center’s after-school programs serve more than 65 students, Diwan said.
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