Fresno city leaders gathered Wednesday at Fort Miller Middle School to unveil a $50,000 youth scholarship grant funded through Measure P, aimed at reducing financial barriers for children to participate in private sports and enrichment programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you take one person off the streets to house them, only to have two more people take their place \u2026 it\u2019s clear that you can\u2019t mend a leaky hose just by purchasing more buckets. You need to fix the leak at its source, and in my humble opinion, that begins by investing in our city\u2019s youth.\u201d \u2014 Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell<\/p>\n
Councilmember Tyler Maxwell, Mayor Jerry Dyer and High Performance Academy CEO Jesus Garcia spoke at the school gym, encouraging local nonprofits to apply to run the Youth Sports Scholarship Program. It will provide scholarships of up to $300 per child for activities such as sports, dance and martial arts.<\/p>\n
Grant Details and Eligibility<\/p>\n
The city is seeking one to three qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit groups to manage the program, which is designed to help youth from disadvantaged backgrounds access extracurricular activities not directly offered by the city. Applications opened Wednesday and are due by Feb. 11, with funds expected to be distributed by March.<\/p>\n
Maxwell said the program reflects the city\u2019s growing focus on youth investment as a long-term strategy to address issues such as crime, homelessness, and poverty.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn five years we\u2019ve invested over half a billion. Yes, half a billion dollars into homeless services,\u201d Maxwell said. \u201cI say all this, I promise you, not to pat ourselves on the back, because the truth is, while we have made significant progress towards these ends, it\u2019s clear that it is still not enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maxwell compared the city\u2019s approach to homelessness to fixing a leak rather than repeatedly addressing its effects.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you take one person off the streets to house them, only to have two more people take their place \u2026 it\u2019s clear that you can\u2019t mend a leaky hose just by purchasing more buckets,\u201d he said. \u201cYou need to fix the leak at its source, and in my humble opinion, that begins by investing in our city\u2019s youth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Youth 12 to 17 Are the Priority<\/p>\n
The scholarship program will prioritize children ages 12 to 17, a group Maxwell described as particularly vulnerable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a critical window because we know that\u2019s the age group where many kids begin to enter gangs, truancy, and even homelessness,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Eligible families must meet income requirements, including participation in programs such as CalWORKs, SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or PG&E CARE, be caregivers of foster children, or live in city-designated high-needs neighborhoods. At least 50% of the funds must be used for age groups or activities not now offered through city programs.<\/p>\n
Unlike many reimbursement-based models, the scholarships will be paid directly to leagues or organizations upfront, a decision Maxwell said was intentional.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a critical barrier for us to break, making sure that the children and their families are not liable for paying upfront and get reimbursed later on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The city will provide up to an additional $7,500 or 15% of the grant for program administration. Nonprofits will be responsible for tracking participation data and providing regular updates to the city\u2019s Parks Department.<\/p>\n
Mayor Cites Public Safety, Personal Experience<\/p>\n
Mayor Jerry Dyer said his decades-long career in law enforcement reinforced the importance of early intervention and access to positive activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got to see firsthand youth that were guided in the wrong direction,\u201d Dyer said. \u201cYouth that didn\u2019t have positive activities that they could be involved in, youth that did not have positive role models and mentors in their life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dyer said sports and enrichment programs help build confidence and life skills that extend beyond athletics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt builds their self-esteem, the fact it allows them to feel more confident about themselves and their future,\u201d he said. \u201cIt teaches them life skills like teamwork and discipline and the importance of discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Youth Advocates Highlight Impact of Access<\/p>\n
Garcia, founder and CEO of High Performance Academy, said access to sports shaped his upbringing in Fresno and continues to be a powerful tool for youth development.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat journey wouldn\u2019t have been possible if I wouldn\u2019t had access to sports at the right time in my life,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cWhat we do at HPA isn\u2019t just about sports. We provide structure, mentorship, and safe outlet for young people beyond athletics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Garcia said teenagers are often overlooked in funding decisions despite facing significant challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are years in a young person\u2019s life when guidance and consistency means a lot,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd during those years are the teenage years.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that removing financial barriers allows families to say \u201cyes\u201d to opportunity.<\/p>\n
School Leaders See On-Campus Results<\/p>\n
Fort Miller Middle School Principal Eugenia Raynor said partnerships with organizations like HPA are making a difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a great impact on our campus with nearly a hundred students being involved at lunch in activities such as basketball and currently we\u2019re implementing soccer,\u201d Raynor said. \u201cWe just see great excitement from our students every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raynor said participation has improved student engagement and attendance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen great results so far with engagement, attendance, and students just being overall excited to be active,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Parks Director Aaron Aguirre said the program builds on lessons learned from city-sponsored sports initiatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy removing these financial barriers, this scholarship program ensures that every child in our city, regardless of their family\u2019s income, has the chance to experience these same life-changing lessons,\u201d Aguirre said.<\/p>\n