It’s a cloudy morning in mid-August, and about 30 kids are gathered at the Ledbury Park basketball court hoping the rain will hold out long enough for a game of ‘Octopus’ before it’s time to head inside for tutoring.
These kids are part of the United Way-funded Summer Achievement Gap program run by Ottawa’s Banff Avenue Community House, a United Way partner. Every day for six weeks over July and August, they take part in a unique approach to summer learning, which blends academics with other enrichment activities, like crafts, physical activity, and field trips.
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Many families don’t have the means to send their kids to expensive summer camps that teach valuable life skills and provide enriching learning experiences. This can widen the gap in academic achievement and increase the risk of summer learning loss.
United Way believes that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential, no matter where they grow up. This is why we invest donations in programs and initiatives that prepare children for school and give them a safe place to play, learn, and just be a kid.
Thanks to generous donations from The Stephen and Jocelyne Greenberg Foundation, the free Summer Achievement Gap program gives kids the chance to remain engaged and increase their achievement over the summer months. As a result, they’re ready to pick up where they left off come September.
Proud supporters of enhanced critical hours programming in Ottawa, the Stephen and Jocelyne Greenberg Foundation have been partnering with United Way for more than 10 years to provide year-round support to kids in the city’s most at-risk communities.
With access to affordable summer programs, after-school homework supports, recreational activities and social programs throughout the school year, youth are less likely to drop out of school—breaking the cycle of poverty.
