North Mankato Helps Kids Make the Connection

North Mankato Helps Kids Make the Connection

Youth Scholarship Fund

BY DARLA MAKELA

When a touchdown is scored or the choir hits just the right note or a swing of the bat results in a homerun, research shows that the final score doesn’t really matter. When kids participate in extracurriculars, everyone is a winner. It builds teamwork, communication, relationships, and a sense of belonging. Together all of these things help students develop socially and be successful in school. A partnership with the city of North Mankato and the nonprofit, Connecting Kids strives to show that participation in extracurricular activities also demonstrates the importance of community involvement.

Connecting Kids is a scholarship program for qualifying families that allows underprivileged kids to participate in after-school activities that they otherwise may not have the resources to do so. There are over 20 different programs available, including soccer, softball, The Children’s Choir, and many more. In addition to the already generous programming of Connecting Kids in the four-county area, the partnership with the City of North Mankato includes a water safety grant through the Minnesota Department of Education. This is used solely for swimming lessons and lifeguard training and assures that no kids in North Mankato will be turned away.

In 2020, the Spring Lake Water Park opened, which offered another opportunity to serve the community. Last year, in 2022, they were able to offer a record-breaking number of scholarships to 100 families just for the water park activities and 60 families for youth sports.

In a time where 1 out of 3 children qualify for free and reduced lunches, the need for also supporting families with extra-curricular costs is great. The generosity of our community members allows programs such as Connecting Kids to stand strong and grow.

Maybe you are wondering how you can get involved in helping to support Connecting Kids in North Mankato. Here are some examples of how your donation can help:

If you would like to learn more about how you can impact a child’s life in this way or if you would like more information on how your child can get involved please visit connectingkidsmankato.org/home