Harris County Commissioners and the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment for Kids (CASE for Kids), a division of Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), presented certificates of recognition and service to the 2024 County Connections Youth Summer Initiative awardees during various ceremonies held the last few weeks. Superintendent James Colbert Jr. and HCDE Trustees David W. Brown, Erica Davis, Eric Dick and Andrea Duhon joined Dr. Lisa Caruthers, CASE senior director; Santrice Jones, Early Childhood Initiatives Division director for the Harry County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity; and County Commissioners Rodney Ellis, Adrian Garcia, Tom Ramsey and Lesley Briones to recognize grantees.

This year, more than $1.3 million in grants were awarded to more than 50 non-profit organizations that provided youth summer enrichment programming like sports activities, fine arts, academic enrichment, college readiness initiatives and youth mentoring programs. Grants ranging from $3,750 to $20,000 infused funding for programs held throughout the summer months, and were used to purchase materials and supplies for activities, add programming opportunities, and reduce fees and offer scholarships to families.

View the complete list of County Connections Youth Summer Initiative 2024 Grant Award recipients.

Organizations representing all four county precincts received grant funding and services were customized to meet the needs of each community. Funding for the initiative is provided by Harris County and administered to vetted programs by CASE for Kids. Harris County Commissioners and HCDE approved a four-year interlocal agreement totaling $7.1 million to support the program in April 2023. The program is in partnership with the Harris County Early Childhood Initiatives Division within the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity (DEEO).

Click on the respective precinct link to view the photo galleries from Precinct 1, Precinct 2, Precinct 3 and Precinct 4.

To learn more about CASE for Kids, visit www.hcde-texas.org/afterschoolzone.