Nonprofit Spotlight: Kids on Point


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In December 2021, PennyLoafer donors collectively gave to Kids on Point (KOP!)

The Rundown

  • Years founded: 2009

  • Leadership: Executive Director Lauren Herterich is committed to addressing educational inequality. She’s led KOP for 7 years and was recently elected onto the Charleston County School Board.

  • Issue they address: unequal distribution of resources.

  • What they do: free year-round academic, athletic, and enrichment programming for kids from low-income communities in Charleston, SC.

  • How they do it:

    • Engage students from middle school until they go to college.

    • Provide a core program that includes academic tutoring, mentoring, and athletic instruction (focused on the game Squash) after school and in the summers.

    • Offer a variety of additional enrichment activities, including volunteering, outdoor athletics, field trips and college prep.

    • Partner with the College of Charleston & the Squash + Education Alliance, as well as 20+ local organizations.

Why they were chosen

Housed at the College of Charleston, KOP’s evidence-based, wraparound program teaches life skills and exposes students to a wide variety of activities from kayaking to STEM programming. They annually support 150 K-12 students, 100% of which qualify for free or reduced lunch.

  • Returning KOP participants see a 20% increase in social skill-building year over year. And students in their program earn college degrees at 3x the rate of peers in the same demographic.
  • Strong partnerships and a collaborative approach enable them to continue to expand their offerings and reach more students.

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😃  Research shows a number of benefits to after school programming, including increased school attendance, improved classroom engagement, and the development of social and emotional skills.

⛔  But not everyone has access. For every child enrolled in an after school program, 3 are waiting to get in. Common barriers include cost, lack of available programs, and transportation.

💰 The opportunity gap is apparent for low-income families. In 2020, families in the highest income bracket spent 5x more on out of school time activities per year than families in the lowest bracket ($3,600 vs. $700).

If you enjoyed this and want to get involved, you can support the Quality Education cause on PennyLoafer, starting with as little as $5/month. Each month, you’ll support and learn about a different nonprofit working to improve the education system.