The Academic, Innovation, and Mentoring (AIM) grant is in place to support youth ages 6-18 with mentoring, educational services, and recreational activities during non-school hours. After the close of the grant process in Spring 2019, Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington State Association was awarded a two-year AIM grant for $362,000 by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). 196 students graduated from the 2021 AIM program and 79% of them qualified for free or reduced lunch. Clubs reported an 83% improvement in ELA and a 70% improvement in math. Current AIM programming is focusing on social-emotional learning as so many students suffered during the pandemic, not just academically. Without the help of OSPI and the AIM grant, Boys & Girls Clubs’ youth throughout Washington state suffering academically, socially, and emotionally would not receive the help they need. The AIM grant provides much needed support to students through its focus on mentoring, recreational activities, academic success, and positive prosocial engagement.
