January 25, 2005; FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Candy Eaton, Program Director

“January 31st is the Deadline for submitting Keeping Kids on Track mini-grants”

Keeping Kids on Track applications are available at the Downeast Family YMCA; from Hancock County Children’s Council at 667-5304 ext. 261, or by writing KKOT c/o Ellsworth Area Communities for Children, Downeast Health Services, P.O. Box 1087, Ellsworth, ME 04605. All applications must be submitted by January 31, 2005 for considering during this cycle of funding.

Keeping Kids on Track is seeking to provide financial and moral support for the creation or expansion of programs that actively involve youth ages 10-14 in communities around Eastern Maine that address the following outcome: Increased skills and assets in youth. Youth ages 10-14 and their families have the supports and skills they need to accept and take personal responsibility, plan and make good choices, resist negative peer pressure and decrease vulnerability to dangerous situations.

Keeping Kids on Track is a program of the United Way of Eastern Maine. In Hancock County, we have two Keeping Kids on Track committees – each with a total of $2500 available for local projects. Contact Candy Eaton at the Ellsworth Area Communities for Children for projects in the greater Ellsworth Area at 667-5304, ext. 261; and contact Vanessa Preble at Healthy Acadia for projects on Mount Desert Island and surrounding communities at 288-5331.

Guidelines for applications require that programs work to meet the United Way’s Community Outcome: Youth ages 10-14 and their families have the supports and skills they need to accept and take personal responsibility, plan and make good choices, resist negative peer pressure and decrease vulnerability to dangerous situations.. “Camperships” or scholarships for summer camp programs will not be considered for funding. Funding for school supplies or the supplementing of school classes or existing programs will not be considered for funding. Programs must mention KKOT and United Way of Eastern Maine in all marketing and publicity.