[caption id="attachment_25922" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/COMMUNITY-YMCA-ML-BOA-Pic-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-25922" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/COMMUNITY-YMCA-ML-BOA-Pic-1-300x300.jpg" alt="Merrill Lynch Beaufort/Bank of America presents $4000 donation to the YMCA of Beaufort County. From left to right are Jennifer Cheuvront, Banking Center Manager II, Bank of America; Kaylin Garst, YMCA Operations Director; and Jack Cunningham, Merrill Lynch Beaufort Senior Vice President." width="300" height="300" data-wp-pid="25922" /></a> Merrill Lynch Beaufort/Bank of America presents $4000 donation to the YMCA of Beaufort County. From left to right are Jennifer Cheuvront, Banking Center Manager II, Bank of America; Kaylin Garst, YMCA Operations Director; and Jack Cunningham, Merrill Lynch Beaufort Senior Vice President.[/caption]

The Wardle Family YMCA of Beaufort County received a grant donation in the amount of $4,000 from Merrill Lynch Beaufort/ Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Inc. This grant will be used to support the YMCA’s youth meal program, part of the 2015-2016 Y Afterschool Program.

The Y afterschool program targets low-income families and youth with low test scores. While primary funding is spent on educational supplies and staffing to get students to grade level or maintain program participants at grade-level, little funds are left over for the nutritional needs of these underserved youth.

“We are grateful for the support of Merrill Lynch Beaufort/ Bank of America in addressing childhood hunger in our community,” said Michael Bostwick, YMCA CEO. “During the 2014-2015 school year, we served nearly 13,000 meals to low income afterschool participants. This generous $4000 grant will allow the Y to provide even more free healthy meals to youth ages 3-13 in the Beaufort-area.”

Meals provided at the YMCA adhere to strict Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards (HEPA) guidelines. “By helping build healthy habits now, we hope to shape the futures of these youth for years to come,” added Bostwick.