East St. Louis non-profits get $500,000 grant

Non-profit groups in East St. Louis got a shot in the arm in the form of a $500,000 grant to be used to increase the groups’ reach to children and teens.

The United Way of Greater St. Louis announced Thursday that the groups, working together as East Side Thrives, received the IMPACT grant from the pharmaceutical company GSK. The grant will support East Side Thrives as they bolster the services offered at the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, Christian Activity Center, Sinai Family Life Center and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation.

“GSK has a long history of helping build healthier communities across the country because wellness is the backbone of strong, sustainable societies,” company president Jack Bailey said in a statement. “The IMPACT Grant will amplify great work already underway by exemplary local nonprofits helping students embrace healthy lifestyles in East St. Louis.”

The grant’s main goals are to increase physical activity in the children served as well as foster academic development and character building. The statement said the grants also would “support shared staffing and transportation strategies so that service providers can increase their reach from 2,000 to 3,000 local kids.”

The grant is welcome news to East St. Louis District 189 Superintendent Arthur Culver.

“After school programs throughout the community offer safe environments that align with our standard of excellence. We are looking forward to the outcomes as a result of receiving opportunities such as receiving the GSK IMPACT Grant,” Culver said. “Together we can provide sustainable results, which will change the lives of the students we serve.”

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 2:37 PM with the headline "East St. Louis non-profits get $500,000 grant."