A Message from Interim Director Kevin Davis
Some numbers are worth a thousand words
When it comes to describing poverty, sometimes numbers tell a story better than words. In the "bad news" category, a few of these numbers include:
* Nearly 16 million U.S. children - more than 1 in 5 - lived in poverty in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
* In move than a third of Ohio's 88 counties, child-poverty rates are above 25%, according to a recent report by Children's Defense Fund-Ohio.
* Nearly 1 in 3 Athens County children lives in poverty, according to Children's Defense Fund-Ohio.
We know that children who struggle with poverty have the odds stacked against them when it comes to academic achievement and success. Research shows that children from low-income families learn as rapidly as those from more economically advantaged ones during school hours. It is the lack of participation in learning activities afterschool and during summer where ecomomically disadvanteged kids lose ground.
Kids on Campus (KoC) helps many of the children in Athens County fight these odds. The educational programs, recreational activities and nutritional meals provided by KoC help empower children who are academically at-risk and surrounded by rural poverty to reach their full potential.
When it comes to describing KoC's successes in combating poverty, this website is a good resource. Browse through the pages and you'll find plenty of "good news" numbers that tell a story, too:
* The KoC afterschool program was able to help 1 in 3 young participants improve their reading grade during the 2010-2011 school year; 27% were able to boost their grade in math.
* 82% of parents said their child does better in class while taking part in the KoC afterschool program.
* 61% of parents whose children attended KoC's summer 2011 program saw an increase in their child's physical activity due to the program.
KoC has a tremendous amount of data available that demonstrates gains in the academic progress of the children we serve. We have numbers that indicate students are improving their reading levels, math scores, homework completion and overall academic performance. We have numbers that demonstrate the positive views that school districts and teachers have of our program. We also have numbers that show high parental satisfaction with the program.
As you review this website, we hope you also look beyond the numbers and data detailing our successes and take a moment to notice all the smiling faces. These are the true measure of the difference KoC makes in children's lives. These faces show the happiness, trust, confidence and self-esteem these youngsters gain from their relationship with KoC. Beyond the numbers, both good and bad, these smiles are what our organization is all about.
We know KoC has enriched the lives of many children in Athens County. And we know this true community partnership could not be possible without the support, expertise and committment of our donors, partners and friends, whom we acknowledge on the "Our Supporters & Partners" page. We attribute our success to the collaborative nature of our program.
Thanks for your support.