Elmont nonprofit scores state funding

Gateway Youth Outreach receives $95,000 to help teens in the area

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Gateway Youth Outreach, a nonprofit that assists at-risk teens, has been awarded state funding, thanks to support from State Senator Jack Martins.

The organization, which helps teens in Elmont find jobs and holds events throughout the community, will receive $95,000 in state aid. That money will go towards funding its Acquiring Critical and Competitive Employment Skills for Success program (ACCESS), which is a yearlong program which prepares at-risk students in the Elmont and Sewanhaka High Schools for a life of work and self-sufficiency through formal training, paid internships and mentorships.

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed — that’s the American dream,” said Sen. Martins. “Using this funding, GYO will be able to change more children’s lives for the better.”

As a nonessential service, youth services, like GYO, have often been the target of budget cuts by the county. With state aid, GYO will be able to operate and expand its current activities while not operating under the constant threat of drastically reducing its presence in Elmont.

“Without the incredible partnership between Senator Martins and GYO the large number of children and families now being served could be left with a tremendous void in services,” said GYO Executive Director Pat Boyle. “We very much look forward to continuing to work with Senator Martins in the future.”

Without services provided by GYO, hundreds of children would lose the opportunity to learn the necessary skills that are fundamental to securing a job after high school and college. By providing a safe place to learn and relax after school, without GYO, those kids could fall into bad habits.

“GYO plays an active role in the academic, social, and emotional development of the children in our community,” said Al Harper, superintendent of the Elmont school district. “By providing jobs for teenagers as well as offering much needed after-school care for elementary school children, this program plants the seeds that help our young people flourish into successful and productive citizens.”

Gateway Youth Outreach is located at 534 Elmont Road. For more information on GYO and its services call 516-328-1550.