June 20, 2016 - Covington Partners received a $100,000 grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) and from the William Riedlin, Sr. Memorial Fund and the R.C. Durr Foundation Fund to expand and enhance the Community Learning Centers initiative in Covington Independent Public Schools.   This initiative seeks to provide wrap-around support services to help students succeed in school and in life.   This is the third year that GCF has funded the Community Learning Center initiative.  

Covington Partners, formerly Covington Partners in Prevention, was founded in 1999 as a community coalition focused on reducing drug abuse and violence among Covington youth.  Since that time, the organization has expanded to include programs and services related to education, wellness, mentoring and family engagement.  Programs and services are delivered through a Community Learning Center model, seeking to transform school buildings into the hubs of their community.  Every aspect of the organization’s work is focused solely on supporting the youth and families of Covington. 

The GCF grant will be used to reduce barriers to academic achievement for students by enhancing the Community Learning Center model throughout all schools.  By providing a variety of activities such as academic support, fitness, visual and performing arts, mentoring and service learning; students receive the extra support they need to be successful in the classroom.  Programs and services are available both during the school day and afterschool.  During the 2015-2016 school year; over 1,500 students attended afterschool programs, mentors spent over 3,800 hours supporting students and 72% of families received tools they could use to be partners in their child’s education.