BANGOR – The Bangor YMCA and Old Town-Orono YMCA have been selected to receive $5,000 J.C. Penney Afterschool grants, enabling the Bangor YMCA to support the Brewer Neighborhood Club after-school programming and the Old Town-Orono YMCA to sustain their Leaders Club program.

Nationwide, 700 YMCAs submitted grant proposals and 450 were awarded $5,000 grants this year. The program was established in 1999. Goals of the J.C. Penney Afterschool Fund include engaging more teens in programs during after-school hours, serving youth who live in low-income communities, and ensuring all children learn to read on-level by third grade.