Big Brothers Big Sisters Receives Grant Share

Category: News Briefs Published on Wednesday, 14 October 2009 13:16 Written by Chronicle Staff

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit has been awarded $500,000, a portion of $37 million in Recovery Act and Fiscal Year 2009 grants that  U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder recently announced have been awarded to support organizations in developing, implementing and expanding youth mentoring activities.

The statutes appropriating funds for fiscal year 2009 authorize the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to award more than $26 million to programs that target mentoring initiatives for foster care children, gang prevention and programs designed to give a second chance to juvenile offenders transitioning back into their communities.

According to Holder, the funds allow the country to invest further in the future of today’s youth by providing mentoring opportunities to help children reach their full potential. He also said the grants will help steer young people away from criminal activities by providing them with healthy life alternatives, positive role models, and direct contact with caring adults.

More information is available at www.ojp.