Power Hour!
Provided By J.C. Penney

An innovative partnership between the J.C. Penney Afterschool Fund and Boys & Girls Clubs of America has given students the opportunity to learn better study habits.

A $5,000 grant helps implement Power Hour, an interactive after-school homework assistance program. Locally, the Boys Club of Oak Ridge received the grant and has put volunteers in place to help students, ages 6 to 18, with homework assistance and guidance.

According to a press release, Boys & Girls Clubs of America responded to concerns from its members' parents, who were seeking help in reinforcing better study habits for their children after school. Power Hour was developed to meet that need.

The program, developed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, is based on the premise that youngsters can learn to view homework as an opportunity to work independently - a practice that will help them successfully complete projects on time, and enable them to feel positive about their accomplishments.

The JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and sponsor of after-school programs, has made Power Hour possible by awarding nearly $1 million in grants to Boys & Girls Clubs around the country in 2004.

"Power Hour gives kids homework help from adults qualified and familiar with their studies," said Oak Ridge J.C. Penney Manager Julie Middleton, in a press release. "Children are our most valuable resource. They are the future leaders of our country. What better investment can we make in our future than in our children?"

"The J.C. Penney Afterschool Fund has provided us with the resources we need to create a comprehensive and effective curriculum that positively impacts the way kids process and respond to their school work," said Adam Wilson, Boys Club of Oak Ridge education director. "We're responding to both parent and child when we develop programs that are fun with a purpose. It makes all those who are part of the circle of education conscious of the needs of our children."

"My husband and I both work full-time," said Leah Krzak, parent of a Boys & Girls Club after-school member, in the press release. "We are grateful to have this after-school support. We feel less stress knowing that not only is our son in a safe and fun environment after school, but he is also developing positive learning skills and attitudes that will last him a lifetime."

For more information about Power Hour or other programs, or to schedule an interview with Wilson, call 482-4433 or e-mail him at awilson@myboysclub.org.