THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES SUPPORTS EXPANSION OF ICAN WITH $50,000 GRANT

February 1, 2022

THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES SUPPORTS EXPANSION OF ICAN WITH $50,000 GRANT

CHANDLER, AZ (February 1, 2022) – ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth in Chandler recently received a $50,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities. The grant will support ICAN’s Positive Youth Development Program – a prevention-focused out-of-school time program with carefully structured activities that teach youth empathy and communication, emotion-management and coping skills, decision-making, social competence, self-regulation, and positive goal setting. Youth also benefit from academic assistance, mentoring, computer skills, STEAM activities, sports and recreation.

ICAN expanded to serve more youth in the midst of the pandemic, opening two new sites at Galveston Elementary and Hartford Elementary. The expansion allows the opportunity for ICAN to bring the program directly to youth, at their schools. This also frees up much-valued space at ICAN’s main facility to allow more youth to enroll in the high-demand program.

“The pandemic brought to light the critical need for free, quality childcare for working families,” stated Shelby Pedersen, ICAN CEO. “Our program is keeping parents employed and is supporting the academic and social-emotional needs of a vulnerable youth population. Thunderbirds Charities’ commitment is essential in helping us grow to reach more youth.”

ABOUT ICAN

ICAN is a free youth center in the East Valley celebrating 30 years offering programs for youth, teens, families and the community. ICAN’s nationally-recognized prevention programming teaches vulnerable youth real-life skills including goal setting, positive decision making and how to avoid the risky behaviors that are prevalent in the community ICAN serves. ICAN’s evidence-supported programming equips youth to achieve personal and academic success. ICAN was twice named “Outstanding Afterschool Program” by the Arizona Center for After School Excellence. For more information about ICAN, call (480) 821-4207 or visit www.icanaz.org.

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