Local research shows that 40 percent of the children and youth in our area are not involved in after-school activities or clubs. National research indicates that children who are not involved are 37 percent more likely to become teen parents and 49 percent more likely to use drugs.

The goals of the Connecting Kids Program are to:

1. Educate parents and guardians of the opportunities in our community to get kids involved
2. Provide financial resources to the households that need them so that they can get their children involved in youth development programs.

Programs accepting Connecting Kids scholarships include (but aren't limited to):

Boy Scouts

Camp Courage

Community Education and Recreation:  arts, music and science

Girl Scouts

Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center

Mankato Area Figure Skating

Mankato Area Girls Fast-pitch Association (MAGFA)

Mankato Area Youth Baseball Association (MAYBA)

Mankato Area Youth Football

Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra

Mankato Ballet

Mankato Children’s Chorus

Mankato Curling Club

Mankato United Soccer Club

The Sal Youth Center

Twin Rivers Center for the Arts

YMCA:  youth recreation, fitness and camps

YWCA:  Girls on the Run and Club Girls World

The Greater Mankato Area United Way distributed Connecting Kids scholarship certificates with the District 77 school folders in April 2009 to all children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.  To find out more about using the scholarship certificate to help cover the costs of a youth program or activity, or for more information, please call Al Roehm, Connecting Kids Coordinator, at 507-387-5501 x426.