NEWS from the Shelby County Mayor’s Office
Lee Harris, Mayor
Vasco A. Smith, Jr., Administration Building
11th Floor, 160 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 28, 2023
Kelly Roberts
Communications Specialist
Office: 901.222.2014
Cell: 901.378.1224
Email: Kelly.Roberts@shelbycountytn.gov
SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING YOUTH ACTIVITIES THROUGH A SECOND YEAR OF SUMMER CAMP GRANTS
Non-profit and non-LEA-based organizations are invited to apply for grants of up to $12,000 for their summer camp programs. Applications close Monday, March 13, 2023.
Shelby County, TN – The Shelby County Office of Education and Youth Services is now accepting applications for its Summer Camp Grant Program. Applications are available now through Monday, March 13, 2023, at bit.ly/ShelbySummerCamp. This is the second year for the grants. They will be awarded to a select number of summer camp operators from non-profit and non-LEA-based educational and enrichment organizations to provide free summer camps to area children.
The program covers all enrollment expenses for at least ten children located in Shelby County at every chosen camp. Grantees will be awarded up to $12,000 with the goal of providing free or no-cost placement to those children.
To qualify, summer camp operators must demonstrate at least two years of successful operations in providing summer programming and provide required documentation to describe their summer program and verify their current 501(c)3 status. Selected summer camp operators must provide a report to Shelby County Government that includes the names of all students who receive free summer camp services.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris: “For many, summer camps are fun, enriching, and educational experiences that create memories campers carry with them throughout their lives. However, for some, the only thing keeping them from those same experiences is the cost. Through the Summer Camp Grants Program, participating camps can provide youth in Shelby County with a positive summer camp experience at no cost to their families. It is my hope that we all continue to identify strategies to support the youngest members of our community, provide free or low-cost resources to families, and invest in our young people’s future.”
Reginald Milton, Deputy Administrator of the Shelby County Office of Education and Youth Services: “Families should have fun and educational alternatives for their children when school is out during summer and cost should not be the issue keeping some youth from these experiences. The Summer Camp Grant Program will give hundreds of children the opportunity to bond with their peers, learn new skills, and be in a safe environment during summertime. I would like to thank Mayor Lee Harris for this innovative program and entrusting the Shelby County Office of Education and Youth Services with ensuring its success.”
Applications are available now through Monday, March 13, 2023. A panel will review all applicants and notify selected camp operators. Eligible and interested applicants must apply at bit.ly/ShelbySummerCamp.
(End of Release)