BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS RECEIVES $75,000 FROM WALMART FOUNDATION

Donnita Travis, CEO and Executive Director for By The Hand Club For Kids, recently received a $75,000 grant from Wal-Mart to fund the tutoring and mentoring program. The program services children in under-resourced communities including the Altgeld, Austin, Englewood and Cabrini- Green neighborhoods. At left, Ms. Travis is joined by Vontesha Stanfield, a former By The Hand participant. Stanfield grew up in Cabrini-Green and started attending the program in the 7th grade. She is now a graduate of Illinois State University and planning to start law school this summer, according to Allison Daze, a By The Hand spokesperson.
Donnita Travis, CEO and Executive Director for By The Hand Club For Kids, recently received a $75,000 grant from Wal-Mart to fund the tutoring and mentoring program. The program services children in under-resourced communities including the Altgeld, Austin, Englewood and Cabrini- Green neighborhoods. At left, Ms. Travis is joined by Vontesha Stanfield, a former By The Hand participant. Stanfield grew up in Cabrini-Green and started attending the program in the 7th grade. She is now a graduate of Illinois State University and planning to start law school this summer, according to Allison Daze, a By The Hand spokesperson.

BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS RECEIVES $75,000 FROM WALMART

FOUNDATION

By Safiyyah P. Muhammad Recently, By

The Hand Club For Kids received a $75,000 donation from the Wal-Mart Foundation, which, a portion will go towards the Club’s nutrition program, “Eat Right, Live Better.” According to Donnita Travis, executive director and founder of By The Hand Club Wal-Mart Foundation has been a tremendous partner with the club for several years, and the foundation’s contributions have made it possible for local elementary students to have more nutritional and healthier meals.

Travis states that having a passion for children is what motivated her to build the afterschool mentoring and tutoring

program for children across the city. Travis pointed out that she does not take a salary for work done at By The Hand because she views her work as more of a passion as opposed to just a ‘job.’

“My passion for serving kids and my love for the L ord replaced my passion for advertisement." Travis, who was once president of a local advertisement company shut the company’s door in 2001 and began building By The Hands Club, Travis said.

The Wal-Mart contribution assists Travis with four economic challenged communities on the city’s south and west sides including neighborhoods in the Austin, Altgeld Gardens, Cabrini- Green, and Englewood. According to Travis, in the early years of the program, just 16 students were enrolled, today, she cites that

more than 1,300 elementary and secondary children participate

in the five above-mentioned communities.

Travis expressed gratitude in a recent press release regarding

grant assistance from the Wal-Mart Foundation. She said, “We are very grateful for this wonderful support from the Walmart Foundation,” Ms. Travis said. “This check will help all of our students learn how to ea t well and live healthier lives.”

According to Travis, By The Hands For Kids has partnered

with several corporations, fastfood chains and foundations that assisted them over the years with a multitude of needs, including

the funding of the Ea t Right, Live Better nutritional meal program

for elementary students, assists the children with safe transportation, provide counseling and spiritual guidance to participants. Travis said, “Besides the Wal-Mart Foundation, we have a long list of partners who have joined us through the years, including Allstate, the McGowan Foundation, Chick fil-A Foundation,

Grosenover, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Comcast, Fellows, FT Cares, Alverin Cornell Foundation,” she said.

By The Hand Club for Kids recently hosted its Health Day,

at 415. N. Laramie Ave., which is located on the cit y’s Westside, in

the Austin community. By The Hand Club For Kids Program

is a Chicago-based, after-school program that emphasizes academic excellence while nurturing the whole child—mind, body and soul, according to organization’s website. To learn more about By The Hand Club For Kids, please visit the website a t: www.

bythehand.org.

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