H.P.A.R.D.’s After School Achievement Program (A.S.A.P.) was awarded an $80,000 State Criminal Justice Planning (421) Fund Grant from the Governor’s Office of Criminal Justice on September 1, 2010.  This grant funding will allow A.S.A.P. to fund an additional three after school program sites in the area and positively impact at risk students.

“Studies have shown that the hours between 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. are critical hours for young students especially those in middle school,” said Joe Turner, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department. “If we can engage young people in after school programs today - we can have a positive impact on their future for a lifetime. We are very happy to receive this grant for all the young people who will benefit from the programs it funds.”

H.P.A.R.D.’s After School Achievement program funds after-school programming at schools and non-profit organizations, with a minimum of 30 students per site. A.S.A.P. was originally created in 1997 as the Mayor’s After School Achievement Program and is now managed by H.P.A.R.D.  The program provides funding for non-profit organizations and schools to implement after-school programming for youth at their locations. To qualify for funding, organizations must incorporate academic enhancement, enrichment, skill development, and community service into their after school programming.

Since its creation the A.S.A.P., through its partner agencies, has positively impacted over 35,000 young people. In the 2010 – 2011 school year, over 3,000 students are expected to participate in programming provided by A.S.A.P. partner agencies.

About the Houston Parks and Recreation Department

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) stewards and manages over 38,992 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston and develops and implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities.  For more information on the After School Achievement Program or the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, call (832) 395-7022 or visit http://www.houstonparks.org/.