Sen. Fontana Announces $8.6 Million for Violence Prevention & Afterschool Programs

Allegheny County - January 16, 2025 - Today, Senator Wayne Fontana announced a total of $8,636,483 in state funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) for agencies and organizations that serve the people of the 42^nd District. These grants provide funding for structured programming opportunities for at-risk school-age youth and violence intervention and prevention initiatives.

"Addressing the causes of violence by funding proven strategies that can lower recidivism rates is good public policy and smart public investment," said Sen. Fontana. "I am proud to support these grants to organizations in our communities working everyday for a safer Western PA."

The awards were made by PCCD's School Safety and Security Committee through two separate programs-the Building Opportunity Through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Grants and the FY 2024-25 Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) Grants-after receiving and reviewing hundreds of applications from across the state.

Awardees that serve the 42^nd District include:

• Allegheny Youth Development - $139,520 in BOOST funding for additional staff hours, training, and programing.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania - $950,000 in VIP funding cover the costs of virtual and in-person mental healthcare and counseling services for teens most at-risk of gun violence.
• Boys & Girls Club (Statewide) - $1,500,000 in BOOST funding to expand services at affiliates like Boys & Girls Clubs of Western PA for out-of-school-time programs.
• Café Momentum Pittsburgh - $914,300 in VIP funding for workforce development internships for 75 at-risk youths.
• Center for Employment Opportunities - $950,000 in VIP funding to assist recently-released individuals with gun-related offenses to reduce recidivism.
• Foundation of HOPE - $949,253 in VIP funding for expansion of reentry programing, street outreach, and violence prevention.
• PA State Alliance of YMCAs (Statewide) - $1,500,000 in BOOST funding for programing at affiliates like the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.
• Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association (Statewide) - $591,000 in VIP funding to enhance programming such as PA Police Virtual Training Network.
• Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (Statewide) - $950,000 in VIP funding towards community-based intervention programs to respond to domestic violence incidents that include a firearm.
• SLB Radio Productions - $192,410 in BOOST funding to expand its summer programing for at-risk teens at its Youth Media Center on the North Side.

You can learn more about the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the grants it awards at the PCCD website, www.pccd.pa.gov.

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