Winterville, NC – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain received a grant from Duke Energy on June 19 to help support the summer program, Summer Brain Gain. The $20,000 check was hand delivered to the Club kids by Duke Energy Government & Community Relations Manager, Millie Chalk. “Duke Energy is focused on trying to build and support our communities in any number of ways, whether it is through education, work-force development or environmental, trying to find all those different niches that can make a difference in the community. Boys & Girls Clubs is the perfect niche for us because those are our future leaders and future employees. We are hoping to build a partnership that not only strengthens Boys & Girls Clubs but also strengthens our organization and communities as well.”

This grant will aid with Club programs during the summer, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain implements a program called Summer Brain Gain. Summer Brain Gain is comprised of one-week modules with fun, themed activities for elementary school, middle school and high school students that are aligned with common core state standards. Each module takes a project-based learning approach: youth engage in a process of learning through discovery, creative expression, group work and create a final project or production. As a result, kids develop higher-order thinking skills while staying on track for the coming school year. President & CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Plain, Kimberly Boyd, “Summer Brain Gain effectively prevents summer learning loss, ensuring kids return to school ready to learn, and they have a great time too!” The check presentation took place at the Jack Minges Unit in Winterville, NC.