IDEX Health & Science in New York recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester (BGCR) to provide support as COVID-19 continues to disproportionately affect minorities in the community.
In collaboration with the IDEX Foundation, IH&S Rochester provided a $22,800 donation to BGCR, which will cover the costs of one tutor for nine months, additional space barriers for STEM classrooms, and breakfast and lunch for 50 kids for nine months.
When the Rochester city school district switched to 100% virtual learning, parents in frontline jobs — who could not work remotely — began struggling to juggle work and care for their children. Although virtual learning keeps everyone safe, it has been particularly challenging for minority populations with lower incomes. Schools also provided a meal for kids who otherwise would not have food available at home.
By providing these funds, parents can focus more on work, while their kids have a safe place to continue learning virtually and be fed breakfast in addition to lunch.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester has a club membership of nearly 1,500 young people ages 6 to 18, with 98% membership of African American descent. Two-thirds of club members reside in single parent households, while 91% qualify for free lunch programs. While anyone residing in Monroe County can join the Club, most club members live in the poorest parts of Rochester called “The Crescent.” It represents the “C” that surrounds the City of Rochester where poverty is most prevalent.