Youth Challenge has been awarded a $30,000 KidCents Regional Grant to provide adapted sports and recreational programs for young people with physical disabilities.

“We are thrilled to have the support of The Rite Aid Foundation,” said Chris Garr, Youth Challenge’s Chief Executive Officer. “It will help us provide a great variety of activities that empower young people with disabilities to increase their overall health and well-being, build self-confidence, and have fun.”

This grant will help Youth Challenge provide hundreds of after-school and summer programs. These adapted activities are specially designed for individuals with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, hearing and visual impairments, among other disabilities. At each program, participants are paired with teen volunteers who help them to adapt and complete each activity. The teen volunteers are specially trained by Youth Challenge to help their partner. Whether they need help with kicking a soccer ball, shooting a basket, or learning to dance, the participant and volunteer partners work together to make sure everyone is part of the activity.

The KidCents Regional Grant Program, which provides grants of $15,000-$30,000, significantly expands the reach of KidCents by funding specific out-of-school-time programs focused on children’s nutrition, physical fitness and academic success. The KidCents program also annually supports a select group of more than 400 nonprofit, kid-focused organizations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of children living in the communities Rite Aid serves and national organizations focused on critical children’s issues, including The Fred Rogers Company, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Folds of Honor.

“We created the KidCents program to ensure that kids have a chance for better lives and brighter futures,” said Tracy Henderson, director of The Rite Aid Foundation and charitable giving initiatives. “With the introduction of the KidCents Regional Grant program, we are expanding our efforts even more while filling a need for valuable out-of-school-time programming. In addition, we are enabling our partner nonprofit organizations to implement innovative, ground-breaking programs that advance children’s health and wellbeing and promote academic growth.”

KidCents Regional Grants support nonprofit organizations with programs that serve children, from newborn to 18 years of age, and improve the quality of life in Rite Aid communities. The grants support three of KidCents’ primary focus areas for improving the health and wellbeing of children: healthy eating, active living and education. To be considered, programs and projects were required to take place during out-of-school-time. Priority was given to programs supporting communities in need.

The inaugural cycle of grants launched in May 2018 and was available in select counties in the following states: California, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington. Another cycle of KidCents Regional Grants will launch later this year. To learn more about the program visit riteaid.com/grants.

Youth Challenge provides adapted sports and recreational opportunities to young people with physical disabilities. Trained teen volunteers are paired one-on-one with participants to play sports, make friends and have fun. YC serves children throughout Northeast Ohio and has offices in Westlake and Shaker Heights. All programs and transportation are free for participant families.

Through KidCents, members of Rite Aid’s loyalty program, wellness+ rewards, can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest dollar and give their change to one of more than 400 nonprofit organizations focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children. For more information, visit www.kidcents.com.

Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded more than $50 million to nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners and associates, has also raised more than $87 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since 1994.

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with fiscal 2018 annual revenues of $21.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.