Starke County Youth Club members and volunteers will take over the WKVI airwaves on Friday to raise money for the nonprofit organization. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they provide academic support to 600 youngsters across the county at after-school sites at Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis Elementary schools and at O-D Junior/Senior High School. They give students quiet time to do homework, offer one-on-one tutoring in a specific subject and offer a variety of enrichment programs like technology classes, videography and world travel through culture centers. Services are offered each Monday through Friday for three hours after school.
“That is the time when kids are most likely to be the victims of or perpetrators of violent crime. We know that kids who don’t have proper supervision, who don’t have great role models, who aren’t engaged in something productive, make the wrong choices in their lives. So we’re there to provide a safe, engaging and positive environment for kids once the school day ends,” Szakonyi says. The Starke County Youth Club mainly serves youngsters in grades K-12, with a primary emphasis on grades K-5. Szakonyi says they are getting ready to expand their services to middle schools across the county. The fundraising goal for this year’s WKVI Radiothon is $40,000. Youth club staff, volunteers and members will share their stories with WKVI listeners starting at 10 Friday morning. Find more information about the club on their website, http://www.thescyc.org/index.html.
