Dear ICYO Friends,
We are honored and humbled to announce our milestone accomplishment of 30 years of service to the Cincinnati community!
While many things have changed since 1993 – consider social media, texting, email, fitness tracking, online banking to name a few – some societal gaps remain unchanged. This is why ICYO continues to educate and advocate for our most vulnerable children in our most under-resourced communities.
ICYO steps in to help bridge the education gap and create opportunities for children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to after-school learning and character development. Educational inequities prior to the pandemic were only exacerbated when children were forced out of the classroom and into homes for virtual education. Disparities arose within access to technology, resources, and support for independent learning. The outcome – an even wider performance and achievement gap affecting black and brown students in Cincinnati Public Schools and throughout the country.
The schools or any one organization cannot make change alone. It takes the entire community coming together to alter this devastating setback. Our friends and neighbors must help advocate for families who don’t have a voice or the resources to influence change and success for future generations in their families.
In honor of our 30-year milestone, we ask you, our generous donors, to help lift up a child in need by providing access to fundamental early learning literacy support, skill development and homework help through a financial contribution to ICYO’s Academic Intervention Program. Each child receives individualized tutoring and mentoring, transportation, meals, and school supplies. They attend field trips, summer day camps, work with therapy animals, and benefit from STEM and financial literacy. And most of all, they are surrounded by caring, nurturing adults to help them grow in self-esteem and encourage them to be their best selves.
Whether you’ve been with us since 1993 or discovering Inner City Youth Opportunities for the first time in 2023, you can make a lasting impact for our children who need us. Thank you for joining us in service of creating a strong, loving community for everyone in Cincinnati.
Sincerely,
Jeanne L. Bell
Executive Director and Founder
