National Youth Sports Program loses funding
By Carolyn Grindrod
[email protected]
Editor-in-Chief
After 33 years of helping children through general health education and exercise, the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) hosted by Georgia Highlands College during the summer has lost its funding.
“It’s going to be a real void in the community,” stated David Mathis, the NYSP project administrator for the past 13 years.
According to Mathis, the $18 million cut from the Federal budget took out 207 health and services programs around the nation because the government wanted to focus funding on the war effort and Katrina.
“It creates a great disadvantage to the youth,” said Mathis. “We were trying to make a different in these kids’ lives now, instead having to help them out later.”
The six-week program at GHC usually hosted around 300 to 400 boys and girls ages 10 through 16 that were from low-income homes, teaching them about sports, math and science and drug and alcohol prevention.
“We also provided children with a free physical check-up, including follow-ups if needed, and we also provided a free lunch to the students,” stated Mathis. “A lot of these children are on free/ reduced lunches at school, but that’s only in the school year. It really helped out a lot of families in the community.”
Over the years, the program has hosted over 10,000 children from Floyd County, Rome City and Polk County schools. According to Mathis, a few of these children have even continued their schooling here at GHC.
“A lot of the time, this is the first time these kids have set foot on a college campus. It gives them hope for the future and provides a safe, education environment today,” said Mathis. “It makes me proud to see a few of the students out on the court or in class here that were former campers. It shows the impact we had on them as children.”
Although the program will not be in effect this summer, there is still hope for the summer of 2007.
“There is still a glimmer of hope that we can put it back in the budget,” stated Mathis. “We’re asking that parents contact their congressman, Rep. Phil Gingrey, who voted against the program, to try reinstate the program.”
“It’s going to be sad,” stated Mathis. “I’ve already had parents call and ask about the program this year, and I had to tell them that there was no funding and have been redirecting them to other programs such as the Boys and Girls Club. The only thing is that this program was totally free.”
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