Tuesday, July 29, 2008 — The JCPenney Afterschool Fund has awarded a grant of $10,200 to the Stanly County Family YMCA to help more children participate in safe, life-enriching afterschool programs.

This gift is one of 340 similar grants being awarded by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund to YMCAs around the country. JCPenney Afterschool Fund’s total national contribution exceeds $3.5 million.

The grant award is specifically targeted to help YMCAs provide financial assistance to youth who are not currently participating in an afterschool program because their families lack the necessary financial resources, or those who are currently participating in a program, but who are at risk of leaving due to lack of funds.

“The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is firmly committed to supporting youth-serving organizations like the YMCA that are dedicated to providing safe, meaningful programs during the crucial hours of 3 to 6 p.m., when studies show that youth are at a greater risk of involvement in crime, drug abuse and other destructive behaviors,” said Jodi Gibson, president of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund.

“By combining resources, we can help reduce the number of unserved youth and ensure that students of all backgrounds and income levels are able to benefit from afterschool programs.”

Complementing the JCPenney Afterschool Fund’s support of the Stanly County Family YMCA is a separate gift from JCPenney of 18 JCPenney Gift Cards worth $50 each for children receiving financial assistance from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund grant to help with the purchase of school clothing and supplies for the new school year.

“The generous support of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund and JCPenney enhances our efforts to serve as many children as possible with meaningful, high-quality afterschool programming,” said John Lowder, executive director.

“They believe, as we do, that children are our greatest asset, and that by working together we can not only keep children safer, but also help provide them with lasting benefits, including healthier lifestyles, improved social skills and an enhanced academic performance.”

Today, with nearly 10,000 child care programs across the country, the nation’s YMCAs are a leading resource for parents looking to find engaging and fun afternoon activities for their children.

Most YMCA afterschool programs include elements that promote health and well-being, social skill development, emotional development, artistry, character development, sports and service.

In Stanly County the YMCA serves approximately 150 children at six afterschool locations across the county. Currently afterschool services are provided at the YMCA Pavilion in Albemarle and at Millingport, Stanfield, Richfield, Ridgecrest and Running Creek schools.

About the JCPenney

Afterschool Fund

The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to advancing the afterschool movement in JCPenney communities by increasing access for children in need, inspiring innovation in the field, and elevating awareness of the value of afterschool programs.

Currently, more than 14 million youth in America are unsupervised every day between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. Through partnerships with YMCA of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National 4-H and United Way of America, the JCPenney Afterschool Fund helps prepare children to reach their full potential by providing them with essential afterschool opportunities.

About JCPenney: JCPenney is one of America’s leading retailers, operating 1,074 department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet, jcp.com, and the nation’s largest general merchandise catalog business.

The YMCA

The nation’s 2,663 YMCAs serve nearly 20.2 million people each year, including 9.4 million children under the age of 18. Through a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, health and well-being for all and family strengthening, YMCAs unite men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs have proudly served America’s communities for nearly 160 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Visit www.ymca.net to find your local YMCA.