BUILDING THE
Winooski Youth Center
To most effectively provide for the youth, FKF has been working diligently to fund and open the Winooski Youth Center (WYC, pronounced WISE), an inclusive space to help train young minds and bodies.
In July of this year, Fight for Kids has acquired the space of the old Centerpoint School on 94 W Canal Street in Winooski. Renovations for this project have begun due in part to funding through the Lowes Hometowns grant.
WYC will teach our youth the importance of making wise decisions as the decisions they make at youth can have a huge impact on the quality of their adult lives.
WYC will provide young people with the tools they need to become the best version of themselves both physically and mentally. They will learn to better cope with life’s challenges by learning skills that include fitness, self-defense, nutrition, and meditation.
The youth center will be open seven days a week to provide ample opportunity to take advantage of all the resources the space has to offer.
On Friday and Saturday nights, the center will be open later, keeping kids out of trouble and providing enriching, entertaining events, such as fight nights, movie nights, and poetry slams.
Most programs will be free, however, there may be some off-site excursions that require a small fee. We will continuously fundraise and apply for grants to help cover these event costs.
We will always "fight the good fight" to ensure that no kid is left behind, regardless of their social economic background.
The WYC will strive to provide a consistently accessible safe space for youth and young adults to connect, learn, and thrive.
Day 1…
Progress…
Donate Today!
Thank you for joining the fight! Donate and help us fund the build and remodel of the Winooski Youth Center. Your gift will allow us to achieve the goals of helping our youth to become the best versions of themselves. We appreciate your support!
You can also mail a donation by check to:
Fight for Kids Foundation
Attn: Finance Dept.
39 Union Street, Winooski, VT, 05404
OUR WALL OF HONOR
When the community center is complete, we’ll have a large wall plaque that honors our generous donors. If you’d like to give a major gift and be on our wall, be in touch or donate today!
Wall of Honor Donor Levels
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Legendary ($100k)
5 spaces available
Your name, or your company or organization’s name and logo, will be displayed on the Belt of Legends.
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Champion ($10k)
10 spaces available
Your name will appear on an individual plaque honoring your contribution.
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Pro ($5k)
20 spaces available
Your name will appear on a shared plaque with another Pro level contributor. Match up with another donor to share this honor!
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Semi-Pro ($1k)
50 spaces available
Your name will be inscribed on one large plaque with our other Semi-Pro’s.
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Amateur ($100)
100 spaces available
Your name will be inscribed on a plaque with our other Amateur’s.
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Spectator
Donate any amount you can. Every donation helps!
About Winooski, VT
Winooski is the most diverse city in Vermont with a population of 7,300 residents within about 1.5 square miles.
We are a high-needs community with a low level of resources. 22.5% of Winooski residents live below the poverty line, and 59% of the overall population qualifies as low to moderate income.
The city of Winooski has one of the highest percentages of students who come from low-income households, approximately 98% according to state Agency of Education data.
Winooski is home to the most diverse communities of BIPOC and New American residents, a population that is largely underserved and low income. Winooski has
residents who come from over 20 different countries, partially due to our refugee resettlement community.
Approximately one quarter of Winooski’s residents are BIPOC. Unfortunately, the city has racially segmented neighborhoods, signaling potential deficits in equitable distribution of resources.
Winooski Middle High School (WMHS) students have complex needs with 85.5% of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch (a poverty metric), 40% being English Language Learners, and 70% identifying as BIPOC, according to enrollment data.
However, the city has no devoted community space for youth.
In-Kind Donations
Building Supplies
2x4s
Nails
Screws
Sheetrock & mud
Concrete
Renovating the youth center is a big undertaking and we welcome all the help we can get! If you have skills you’d like to share or things that you’d like to donate, here are some things on our wish list that could help:
Skilled Labor
Electrical work
Plumbing
Carpentry
Drywall installation
Other Items
Rubber Flooring
Utility Sink
Computer
Assault Trainer
Heavy Bags