A Winooski organization is receiving a $115,000 grant to make physical improvements to their space. Fight for Kids Foundation was awarded the grant by Lowe's as part of their Hometown Impact Program , intended to improve and revitalize communities across the country.
Fight for Kids was started by "King" James McMillian in 2009, who became invested in underrepresented youth and their safety, according to foundation volunteer Julie Lappin. The organization has grown. It provides after-school services, homework help and various physical fitness programs, like self-defense and boxing.
Lappin's son has been participating in boxing at For for Kids for a while, and McMillian has been a "great mentor" for him. Enough so that Lappin nominated the organization to receive the award. After a few rounds of eliminations and a formal proposal, Fight For Kids was selected as one out of 100 organizations in the country to receive a portion of the $100 million initiative from Lowe's.
Fight for Kids Foundation was granted nonprofit status in 2021, with the goal of being able to establish a larger and permanent space to accommodate a higher number of youth and offer more youth-centered programming.
In 2022, Fight for Kids began work on purchasing that new space. They found themselves outgrowing their current facility and wanted a place to expand their programs to better serve the needs of the community. Since then, they have been raising money to buy and remodel old Winooski buildings into a youth center. The grant was exactly what they needed to take on that expansion.
The center will be at 94 West Canal St. The money will be utilized to build a homework and computer lab space, renovate the kitchen and restrooms, and expand the usable space for programming. The renovations will also allow the Youth Center to create the structure necessary for food and hygiene pantries for the community at large.
Lappin said that local Lowe's employees are helping with the renovations and have really made this nationwide program seem very community-driven. The center is slated for a Nov. 1 grand opening.
Community is a driving force behind the foundation. They welcome volunteers for all types of programs, along with keeping doors open for new programs if any educators have an idea they believe could be of service to the community. More information can be found on the website, vtfightforkids.org .
Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: A mom wanted to help a Winooski, VT, nonprofit. Now they have a $100K from Lowes
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