Submitted photo Participation in Girl Scouts is one example of youth activities supported through the United Way’s scholarship program. Organized activities such as this help kids develop social interaction skills, learn organization and time management, and grow up to be better citizens in our community.

NEW ULM — New Ulm Area Foundation recently awarded a grant of $5,000 to the local United Way for its Youth Activities Scholarship program. The program provides scholarships to young people aged 3 to 18, whose family income is insufficient to meet the activity and equipment fees, and who are unable to get assistance through other scholarships and grants. Each child can apply for up to $200 each year in scholarship dollars, with the United Way covering 80% of the fees, and the youth’s parent or guardian covering 20%. Applicant households must provide financial documentation to show need. The United Way uses the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch income by household criteria.

The ultimate goal of the United Way Youth Activities Scholarship Program is to ensure that any youth in the local area who desires to enroll in activities will not be denied the opportunity due to a lack of family funds. In their grant application, Lori Pickell-Stangel, United Way Executive Director, indicated that COVID-19 social distancing restrictions prevented the United Way from holding its normal fundraiser for Youth Activities Scholarships in 2020. This left a big gap in their budget. The grant from New Ulm Area Foundation helps close that gap and helps fulfill NUAFI’s mission of addressing community needs to make the New Ulm area a better place to live.