For Immediate Release<

JCPenney Afterschool Fund Provides GRANTS to the Waltham Boys & Girls Club

Waltham, MA October 8, 2007 – The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is awarding a $6,000 grant to the Waltham Boys & Girls Club of in an effort to increase access for youth currently without access – or on the verge of losing access – to after school programs due to a lack of financial resources. Recent studies show that 14.3 million children in the U.S. are unsupervised between the hours and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. These grants will allow children, who could otherwise be at risk for destructive behavior, access to safe, enriching and educational after school programs.

Funds from the grants will cover the expense of attending a Club, including staff supervision by full-time, trained youth development professionals; exposure to tried and proven programs and time spent in a safe, youth-centric building. Additionally, each mini-grant recipient will receive a $50 JCPenney gift card, courtesy of J.C. Penney Company, Inc., to help with the purchase of clothing and supplies for the this school year.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America has received funding and support from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund for more than five years. High-quality after school programs keep children safe and produce life-changing, lasting benefits, including healthier lifestyles, improved social skills and enhanced academic performance. In its continuing effort to ensure that every child in America has access to quality after-school programs, the JCPenney Afterschool Fund has give $2,794,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America this year.

The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to providing children with access to high-quality afterschool programs. The FundÕs contributions allow for the continuance and growth of afterschool programs aimed at the academic, physical, and social development of children throughout the U.S. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund also works to raise awareness of the benefits of afterschool programming, and is committed to ensuring that every child has access to the world of opportunities that awaits them after school.

The Waltham Boys & Girls Club has been providing quality youth programs to kids and teens in the city of Waltham for over 55 years. The Club is located at 20 Exchange Street and serves nearly 900 youth each year. For more information, call 781.893.6620.