Community Organizations Give Students the Power to SHINE

Community Organizations Give Students the Power to SHINE

While the hottest new toys or the latest electronics may lose their sparkle, the impact of learning lasts a lifetime. So earlier this year, when SHINE of Luzerne County faced funding cuts, a group of local organizations came together to address the shortfall. AllOne Foundation, AllOne Charities, Earth Conservancy, the Luzerne Foundation, United Way of Wyoming Valley and the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund contributed $500,000 to make sure SHINE could continue to brighten the futures of students and their families.

SHINE's after-school program gives students in first through eighth grade the gifts of homework help, hot meals and project-based learning from September through May. During the summer, the students got competitive at the STEM Olympiad, where they showed off the science, technology, math and engineering skills learned during the year in events like the rain gutter regatta and the egg drop challenge.

SHINE also provided students with a glimpse into their futures during College for a Day. Before they split up into separate classrooms to learn about nursing, pharmacy, water filtration, physics and broadcasting, Greg Cant, president of Wilkes University, welcomed the students to campus. "The purpose of today is to start to get you excited about possibilities," he said. "When you come to college, you're going to get to do remarkable things."

In addition to providing academic support and inspiring students to think about their futures, SHINE helps strengthen families through access to social services, educational opportunities, financial literacy programs and career preparation. After 10 years, SHINE's gifts have reached nearly 5,000 students and their families, creating positive changes in homes, schools and the surrounding community.

When Carol Nicholas, executive director of Luzerne County SHINE, learned that state funding was much lower than anticipated this year, she was heartbroken. She knew that the drastic cuts would mean half as many parents could rely on SHINE as a safe place for their kids to go while they worked and half as many students would be able to increase math and reading proficiency through DreamBox software. "I had many sleepless nights," Nicholas said.

But Nicholas knew she wasn't alone. She turned to Mike Wood, special assistant to the president at Wilkes University. SHINE has been part of Wood's professional portfolio since the organization found its home on campus. Wood believed that SHINE would find a way to continue serving its students and families at nine centers across seven school districts. "I just knew we were going to get it done," said Wood. "This program is too important for the community not to find a solution."

The community stepped up with the encouragement of former state legislator John Yudichak, who helped launch Luzerne County SHINE." John wasn't taking no for an answer," said Wood. Led by AllOne Foundation, the philanthropic powerhouses joined forces and funds to close SHINE's budget gap. "That was the happiest day I've had in a long time," said Nicholas. "It made all our hearts feel really good."

This gift of funding ensures SHINE's full services for the 2024-25 school year, though next year remains uncertain. "We could be meeting this challenge again," said Nicholas. "We need the community to understand our value." While SHINE continues to provide a safe, fun and educational after-school haven, Nicholas, Wood and the organization's supporters have put on their thinking caps to get creative in case the need arises again.

In the meantime, SHINE celebrates the gift of learning with students and their families. Nicholas invited representatives from these community partners to the State Street Elementary Center in Larksville to witness the results of their generosity first-hand. "It's just so concrete what you've done here," she said. "These faces look different at every center, but they're the same happy kids."