Washington and Lee University
The first grant is $18,000 for a summer program, Four Camps and a Bus.
The YMCA partnered with Boxerwood Gardens and Lime Kiln Theatre to propose this program, which the review committee found to be the most comprehensive, innovative solution. Four Camps and a Bus will be 10 weeks of consecutive programming with a la carte options. Addressing the need for a full-day program, it will provide transportation from Kiln Kamp and Boxerwood to afternoon programming.
The second grant, $7,000, goes to a partnership between Summer FAIR, a long-standing summer program and PLAY, a new camp. This partnership addresses the needs for transportation and a full-day program. FAIR will continue to provide the high-quality, arts-education programming they are known for, and PLAY will operate in the afternoons, providing a healthy lunch and snacks and plenty of fun exercise. Participants can choose to attend FAIR, PLAY, or both.
Both of these successful proposals requested use of Washington and Lee facilities, and we will provide them as much as possible. The committee found the collaborative efforts and commitment to excellence in both proposals to be outstanding.
We are planning a Camp Fair this spring, so families can learn more about the options for summer programming.
The committee also recommended that W&L fund a collaborative proposal for after-school care from the YMCA, Boxerwood Gardens, and FAIR. Accordingly, we will give $50,000 so the YMCA can expand its current after-school program at Waddell and Central to include Lylburn Downing, as well as programming from Boxerwood and FAIR and the addition of a movement instructor. This program will also provide out-of-school child care, including snow days, teacher in-service days, etc. Field trips to Boxerwood and other local venues will be a regular part of the programming, with the YMCA providing transportation. The funding will greatly enhance the ability of these organizations to provide not only child care, but also quality enrichment programs.
These grants and programs are part of President Ruscio's Work-Life Initiative. The review committee solicited grant applications through a Request for Proposal (RFP) that allowed vendors to apply for either or both. We distributed the RFP to local agencies and providers as well as national non-profit and for-profit organizations. After a thorough review, the committee recommended, and President Ruscio accepted, these two proposals.
We will provide more information soon about the specifics of these new programs. In the meantime, feel free to contact Mary Katherine Snead, assistant director of work/life initiatives, or any member of the review committee: Elizabeth Knapp, associate dean of the College and chair of the Child Care Task Force; David Leonard, associate dean of students and member of the Child Care Task Force; Elizabeth Branner, director of Law School advancement and member of the Child Care Task Force; Linda Hooks, professor of economics; and Valerie Cushman, executive assistant to the president.
