Several grants given by the Shenango Valley Foundation to local organizations should help to make summer more fun for area children.

Three $2,000 grants of unrestricted funds were given to aid the summer programs of the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, West Hill Ministries, and Young Life.

"Most of the funds at the foundation are donor-advised funds, but with our unrestricted fund, we use our discretion for the community needs," said Larry Haynes, executive director of the foundation and pastor of Grace Chapel Community Church in Sharon. "Primarily what the foundation is looking to do with this money, if it's connected to children or the elderly, they will be high priority to receive a grant at our discretion."

The money comes from a combination of donations by the O'Brien Memorial Fund, Anderson Charitable Fund, Strimbu Memorial Fund, Weller Family Charitable Fund and the Timblin Foundation, Haynes said.

The grants will support ACLD's summer tutoring program plus their Explorer's Club -- a motor skills gym program; West Hill Ministries' Super Week which is a weeklong camp for Sharon children that is held in July and includes such activities as swimming, roller-skating, and a visit to the Recreation Station in Hermitage and Waldameer Water Park in Erie; and summer camp tuitions for students involved in both the West Hill Ministries and Young Life, which is an ecumenical-mentoring program geared toward high school students to bring them the word of Christ in a fresh way.

"If we didn't get help like this, we couldn't function. It's that simple," said Elizabeth Regule, executive director of ACLD.

Directors of the other two groups agreed that without help from the community it would be next to impossible to continue doing what they do best, which is serving kids.

"We're dependent on the generosity of foundations, charitable trusts, donations from businesses, and private donors," said Cindy Swogger, director of West Hill Ministries, which is supported by four Sharon churches -- First Baptist Church of Sharon, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. John's Episcopal Church, and First United Methodist Church.

"It feels reassuring to know there are organizations such as the Shenango Valley Foundation supporting what we do," said Katie Farr, a Young Life volunteer leader.

Other grants recently given by the foundation include $3,500 for a local child's wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation; $1,000 to the Frank Faye Terrace After School Program in Reynolds; and $1,000 grant for Sharon Regional Health System's Connections Program which is for autistic children.

For more information about the summer youth programs, contact West Hill Ministries and (724) 347-7261; Young Life at (724)347-7123; and ACLD at (724) 346-5887.