(ABOVE) Project Success team poses outside the Harrison Park Clubhouse prior to their 25 Year Anniversary Celebration.
Kimberly David has been with Project Success for 23 years, and was named CEO earlier this year. And although there was much to celebrate during Wednesday evening’s (Aug 30th) 25 Years in Vermilion County Anniversary Celebration, the major concern for this umbrella organization for children and family services is definitely funding strategies for the future.
Earlier this year, programs in some Vermilion County schools, from homework help with tutoring to enrichment and more, were lost because of grant money being overspent by the Illinois State Board of Education. David says it was already known that more diversified funding is needed for Project Success in Vermilion County; and this drove the point home even more.
Project Success CEO Kimberly David poses outside Harrison Park Clubhouse prior to 25 Years Event.
AUDIO: We know we have a lot of support in the community, and a lot of people know who we are, but we just want to get out there more. (We are) also trying to find funding for the schools we’ve lost. So all of Oakwood and Giacoma in Westville, we’ve lost funding for those schools. So our focus right now is just searching for funding so we can get it back for those students.
But despite the recent difficulties, David reminds us there are some new Project Success activities going on this new school year.
AUDIO: For the new year we have a new violence prevention program at the YMCA, that takes place after our 21st Century and other after school programs. And we have just a lot of new field trips planned; and activities for the students, and new community partnerships and things like that. So we’re very excited.
David says one of many things to be proud of is Project Success can help help youngsters in kindergarten all the way through their senior year of high school, including helping them reach the finish line of K through 12.
AUDIO: Just building our programs, and being able to offer it to more students in the county. We’re really proud of our credit recovery program for high school students. It allows them to graduate on time, or graduate at all; and just the students we’ve seen go on to be very successful.
And another definite piece of good news is that this October, for the first time in a handful of years, Project Success will once again become a United Way organization.
