From left to right, front to back, are Carlye Swanson, Denise DeAngelo, Kathy Benson, Nancy Genung, Sean Swan-Leuze, Nancy Malenga, Dennis Cimo, Jen Swan-Leuze, Cheryl Mawhinney, Marc Vitantonio, Erika Muecke and Tom Mawhinney. Submitted photo

Chautauqua Striders Inc., recently received a $20,000 grant from The Blossom Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

The funding will be used for 2022-23 mentoring and social-emotional learning programs through the organization.

The Chautauqua Striders Mentoring and Social-Emotional Learning programs served 470 students in the past year. According to Youth.gov, mentoring provides a plethora of benefits for the young people being served, including increased high school graduation rates; lower high school dropout rates; healthier relationship and lifestyle choices; enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence; as well as a decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use and more.

Currently, mentoring is offered in the following districts: Jamestown Public Schools District, Falconer Central School District, Frewsburg Central School District, Bemus Point Central School District and Southwestern Central School District.

“This funding will allow Chautauqua Striders to continue to improve and grow our mentoring program,” said Chautauqua Striders Executive Director Jen Swan-Leuze. “We appreciate the continued support the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation has shown by providing this vital funding for our programming, and we are pleased to continue to offer these much-needed services to the community.”

Other funders and partners of the Chautauqua Striders Mentoring program include the Holmberg Foundation, Hultquist Foundation, Jamestown Public Schools, Jessie Smith Darrah Fund, Lenna Foundation, Sheldon Foundation, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and Wegmans.

Chautauqua Striders provides tutoring, mentoring, outreach, and athletic programs to more than 1,500 Chautauqua County youth annually. Chautauqua Striders was founded in 1979 as a local track club and has since grown into a multi-faceted organization. Chautauqua Striders aims to help youth graduate high school inspired with the knowledge, skill, and confidence required for successful college and career experiences. For more information on the organization, visit www.chqstriders.org or follow Chautauqua Striders on Facebook.