After-school programs are offered to students in partnership with Variety Boys and Girls Club
October 13, 2023
Long Island City – On Friday, October 13, Council Member Won, was joined by Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, Principal Louis Pavone, and staff and students from P.S./I.S. 78Q to announce $300,000 in funding to create a new after school program for all students, fund enriching arts programming, and provide technology upgrades. Council Member Won secured $205,000 in City Council funding for recess and after-school programs that will provide homework help, performing arts instruction, and physical education in partnership with Variety Boys and Girls Club. The Council Member also secured $75,000 for technology upgrades, and $20,000 in funding for Cultural After School Adventures (CASA) programming through Queens Botanical Society.
P.S./I.S. 78 is the number one rated school in District 26 based on official state assessments. Test scores show that students meet or exceed grade-level expectations across multiple subjects. The school has seen an increase in enrollment from low-income students living in Hunters Point’s affordable housing. This partnership between Council Member Won and Variety Boys and Girls Club will ensure that every student, regardless of income, will be able to access quality theater, arts, and sports programs after school.
“As a working mom, I am thrilled to bring a brand new after school program to P.S./I.S. 78 to ensure all of our students and families have access to care when the school day ends,” said Council Member Julie Won. “For years, parents at P.S./I.S. 78 have had to fundraise to support after school programming for their children, and many did not have access to these programs at all. In partnership with Variety Boys and Girls Club, parents can have peace of mind that their children are in a safe space that allows them to learn and grow. Thank you to Costa Constantinides and his team at Variety Boys and Girls Club for partnering to give scholars an outlet to foster their creativity, and a special thanks to Principal Louis Pavone, Assistant Principal Deana Rombone, and PTA President Kelly Craig for their advocacy.”
“We are very grateful to Council Member Won for her support of expanding our afterschool services to PS 78. Thanks to Council Member Won, the children of PS 78 will have access to STEM, arts, athletics and the myriad of programs Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens provides on a daily basis. Our mission is to help young people find their passion while providing them a safe space to do it. This funding and partnership with the PTA President Kelly Craig and Principal Pavone along with all of the staff at PS 78 will allow for this to happen,” said Costa Constantinides, CEO, Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens.
“I want to thank Council Member Julie Won for providing funding to the Variety Boys and Girls Club and Costa Constantinides so that our school can partner with them and be able to provide a free after-school program for all of our children in grades K-5,” said P.S./I.S. 78Q Principal Louis Pavone. “The importance of after-school programming is essential for our families and for 18 years I have been advocating for all public schools to receive funding so they can provide free after school for families. The city does not provide funding for non-title 1 schools for these programs, and I want to thank Council Member Won for seeing this need for our families as well.”
“Our entire school community is incredibly grateful to CM Julie Won for not only her continued support of our school, and all the schools in her District, but for her commitment to helping us build an after-school program that denies no child this imperative service that is in economic need. We are also grateful to the Variety Boys & Girls of Queens for their partnership in helping to bring this program to our school,” said Kelly Craig, President, P.S/I.S. 78Q PTA.