BANGOR – YMCA of the USA and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund are helping to get children off the streets and into safe, productive and rewarding environments after the school day ends.

While kids from the Bangor Y-Brewer Neighborhood Club scaled the Bangor Y-Epic Sports climbing wall at a recent Lights On AfterSchool event, JB Klecha, manager of JCPenney’s Bangor store, presented a $5,000 check to Nancy Cambridge, youth and family director at the Bangor Y.

In addition to awarding $5,000 to the Bangor Y, the JCPenney Afterschool Fund also granted equal amounts to 254 other YMCAs around the country, a total of $1,275,000. The funds will help YMCAs provide more after school staffing and transportation, develop after school activities and curricula and purchase program supplies.

Bangor Y after-school programs provide diverse, supervised activities, including homework assistance and tutorial support for children age 6-13. Additional activities promote a sense of physical, intellectual, emotional and social well-being. Children are encouraged to challenge their creative instincts and develop new and lasting friendships.

To obtain more information, call 941-2808.