United Way Windsor Essex is offering a new after-school program in six priority neighbourhood schools.
The Ignite Academy is the first new program funded through the ProsperUs Collective- a group of community philanthropists with the goal of ending child poverty in the community. The first "Cradle to Career" solution will be given funbding of $1.57 million a year for the next five years.
"This Ignite Academy now, after many hours of talking to parents and youth is designed to hit all of the marks on all the barriers that kids are experiencing," said United Way Windsor-Essex CEO Lorraine Goddard.
In addition to the school curriculum supports, the program will offer mentorship, mental wellness programs, nutrition, and wrap-around supports for the whole family.
It will support 360 students at General Brock, Begley, Immaculate Conception, St. James, St. Louis, and Queen Elizabeth schools.
"Once we know that our prototype is accomplishing what it set out to do, then our goal is to expand into other schools in the neighbourhoods," said Goddard.
The program will start in September. Schools and teachers will identify children they believe will benefit from the program.