Tampa Bay cares for kids during summer and help parents learn financial skills What does it mean for a low-income family to receive free quality child care during the summer months? It means the difference between a “latch-key” kid and stimulating, supervised care. Or between sacrificing a job to stay home and an opportunity to work or go to school.   Although summer “officially” ended last month, almost 600 kids now have cherished memories from their experiences at local agencies as part of United Way’s Summer Care Initiative. Children and youth between ages 5-13 had the opportunity to participate in summer camps that were educational and fun. As part of their children’s summer care scholarship, parents are required to attend financial literacy classes. “(My daughter) Rachel told me she had more fun during the last three months then she had all year! What a great program run by friendly, efficient staff (at Girls, Inc.),” said Ms. Stewart. “The scholarship we received from United Way was a tremendous blessing for my small family. Thank you for long-lasting personal enrichment tools and fun memories for Rachel.” |more|

2007 Summer Care program centers: A Brighter Community, Inc., Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, Friends of Happy Worker’s, Girl’s Inc., Great Explorations, Inc., Golda Meir, Kent Jewish Center, Kid City, The Children’s Museum of Tampa, Police Athletic League, Achieve Tampa Bay-United Cerebral Palsy.