The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently donated $2,000 toward the YMCA of Beaufort County’s Summer Learning Loss Prevention initiatives. The Y’s learning loss prevention program focuses on children entering first and second grade at Whale Branch Elementary School who are most at risk of falling behind in their reading skills over the summer months. The program is one of three pilot programs being tested by YMCA of the USA, the resource office for the nation’s Ys, as part of the nonprofit’s efforts to address gaps in academic achievement among the nation’s most disadvantaged youth.

The goal of the Y’s pilot program is to help children read at grade level by the third grade — a key educational milestone that is important to children’s ongoing knowledge retention and academic performance.

“We know that the combination of extended learning and enrichment activities is essential to increasing children’s success in school, and we are dedicated to helping more kids achieve their potential,” said Kaylin Garst, operations director, YMCA of Beaufort County.

As a leading nonprofit focused on youth development, the Y nurtures the potential of every child and teen. The YMCA of Beaufort County is one of 43 Ys across the country offering the summer learning loss prevention pilot program this year, which complements the Y’s other educational programming, including traditional camp programs that are located on site at the Wardle Family YMCA in Port Royal, serving approximately 400 children ages 3-15 years old, as well as an additional 200 students within Jasper County. For more information, please contact the YMCA at 843-522-9622 or visit www.ymcabeaufortcounty.com.
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