Shapiro-Davis Budget Creates New “Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time” (BOOST) Program as Part of Comprehensive Approach to Making Pennsylvania Communities Safer.
Allentown, PA – Lt. Gov. Austin Davis grew up going to a Boys & Girls Club in his hometown of McKeesport, and today he visited the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown to celebrate a major victory in the bipartisan state budget — funding for afterschool programs that will help keep communities safe and give Pennsylvania kids more opportunities.
“The experiences I had at the Boys & Girls Club shaped me and helped put me on the path to becoming Lieutenant Governor,” said Lt. Gov. Davis, who leads the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). “That’s why we fought so hard to ensure the Shapiro-Davis budget included funding for afterschool programs, and we were incredibly proud to work with our partners in the legislature on both sides of the aisle, including Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver, Representative Mike Schlossberg and Representative Elizabeth Fiedler, to make this happen.”
Earlier this month Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the 2024-25 state budget, which:
- Invests $11.5 million to create a statewide Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) program through PCCD, which will aim to reduce community violence by providing more afterschool learning opportunities for young people;
- Invests $45 million in proven community-based programs to reduce violence through PCCD, including a $5 million increase for the successful Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) program, which supports a wide range of models focused on reducing community violence and relies on community groups that are most in tune with specific local needs;
- Includes a $5 million increase for the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund at PCCD, which provides resources for places of worship, community centers, and other entities to equip themselves with security measures;
- Increases funding for domestic violence services by an additional $2.5 million through the PA Department of Human Services (DHS).
In April, the Lieutenant Governor joined Schlegel Culver in Milton to tout the BOOST proposal, as part of the Shapiro-Davis budget to support kids and families and reduce violence.
“The BOOST program will offer students valuable opportunities to connect with peers, receive additional homework support and develop new skills,” said state Sen. Nick Miller. “By providing structured afterschool care, we are proactively working to prevent violence in our communities and ensure the safety of our residents. These students represent the future leaders of Pennsylvania, and I am proud to support this initiative to broaden their horizons.”
«For the past four years, myself, the Lieutenant Governor, Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver and Representative Fiedler have worked with a series of partners to make BOOST a reality,” said state Rep. Mike Schlossberg. “Today, we celebrate government at its best: Investing in our kids to promote educational opportunities, keep our children safe and help parents stay in the job market. This is a huge win for kids, profits and the world-class organizations that do this work.»
«Out-of-school time programs like BOOST can be life-changing,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler. “They keep young people safe even after they leave school, while allowing their parents to maintain jobs. Until now, inadequate funding has meant thousands of students left on waiting lists and their families left in the lurch. This year’s investment in afterschool and violence prevention programs will change that. It’s a major win for children, families and Pennsylvania’s economy.»
Earlier this year Davis received the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s State Alliance Champion Award, as well as the Pennsylvania Alliance of YMCAs’ YMCA Champion Award, for his support for afterschool programs.
