Youth Scholarships: Can You Help?

By Tricia Wiltshire

County Park Friends is raising $30,000 in access scholarships to support active and healthy lifestyles for local youth. They need your help!

“Parks have the ability to transform lives but the reality is that even some low-cost fees can provide barriers to access for local families. This effort by County Park Friends can help break down those barriers so local kids can have access to the camps, facilities and experiences that our local parks system provides,” said Supervisor Zach Friend.

Help Kids Play Scholarships cover those fees for qualified youth. Through tax-deductible donations, local residents can help County Park Friends raise $30,000 for scholarships by December 2024. Donations can be made at countyparkfriends.org

“Applications for Access Grants open to the public in February and March each year, and last year’s interest exceeded available funding,” said Mariah Roberts, executive director.

County Park Friends previously awarded Access Grant Scholarships to 140 youth from 104 eligible families, including 89 awards for County Parks’ Learn to Swim Program and 24 awards for a full session of Pool Guards. Other awards covered sports, nature or other programming offered by Santa Cruz County Parks.

TOP PHOTO CREDIT: County Park Friends