Hawaiʻi After School Initiative Selected for NFL Grant

Lt. Gov. Tsutsui announcing his plan to develop a new initiative geared towards enhancing the learning experience of intermediate and middle school students throughout the State. Courtesy file photo.

By Maui Now Staff

An after-school initiative for Hawaiʻi’s public middle and intermediate school students has been selected to receive funds from the National Football League Foundation through its Pro Bowl Community grant program.

The REACH initiative, which is short for Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture and Health, was established in March 2013 by Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui of Maui as a way to keep students on track towards graduation and prepare them for future success.

The program offers students expanded learning opportunities during after-school hours.  Schools that were selected for the program include:  Maui’s Hāna High and Elementary School, Molokaʻi Middle School, Mililani Middle, Kawānanakoa Middle, and Waiākea Intermediate School.

The NFL Foundation Pro Bowl Community grant program provides funding for youth-serving organizations in Hawaiʻi in celebration of the 2014 Pro Bowl.

“A big mahalo to the NFL Foundation for its donation to our initiative,” said Tsutsui in a government press release. “This grant will go a long way to help expand our initiative, enabling it to serve more middle and intermediate school students with quality after-school activities that will keep them engaged and excited about learning,” he said.

Organization representatives say the REACH initiative is currently a pilot program, but is being considered for permanent funding by the state legislature under the state Office of Youth Services.