The Hershey Company is supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton & Augusta County through a $60,000 grant that will help the club keep its afterschool membership rates unchanged from the last school year.
The lowest-cost membership rate will, thus, be able to remain at $10 per week – which isn’t bad, for afterschool care, academic support and healthy meals and snacks.
“Every child deserves a village of people who believe in their potential,” said Debra Freeman, the CEO at the local BGCWSA.
A portion of the funding will support the club’s Youth Wellness Initiative, a pilot launched at the Waynesboro club site this summer with the addition of a behavioral support coordinator to strengthen support for youth with increasing behavioral, social emotional, developmental and wellness needs.
During the 2026–2027 school year, the pilot will continue through emerging behavioral health, community health, and university partnerships focused on needs and program assessments, staff training, pre and post surveys, and implementation support.
“The Hershey Company is proud to support the Boys & Girls Club and the important work they do every day, from providing meals and enrichment opportunities to helping remove barriers for families who need it most,” said Mike Sever, the manager of the Hershey plant in Stuarts Draft.
“Their resilience and dedication to the community, even amid ongoing facility challenges, made them a natural partner for us. We’re honored to support their efforts to expand opportunities for the young people they serve and strengthen their impact across the community,” Sever said.
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Chris Graham
