As the spring season closes, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. (NOW) is excited to share that the organization has given out over $13,000 in youth scholarships and awards since the start of 2018. The funds supported over 148 children participating in youth sports over the past six months. NOW, a non-profit human services organization, provides children with the opportunity to participate in area wellness activities and athletics programs, offering scholarships to qualifying youth of the community.

Each spring and fall, NOW partners with a variety of local recreation sports organizations to provide scholarships, as well as fitness & nutrition education to children from throughout the 10-town area. For the winter & spring seasons of 2018, NOW partnered with the following organizations: Griffin Youth Hockey, with 6 scholarships; Killingly Parks & Recreation Youth Basketball, with 3 scholarships; Killingly Youth Soccer Parents Association, with 38 scholarships; Koinonia School of Sports Swim & Gymnastics programs, with 48 scholarships; Plainfield Little League, with 14 scholarships; Plainfield Recreation Youth Basketball, with 8 scholarships; Plainfield Soccer Association, with 13 scholarships; and Putnam Little League, with 11 scholarships.

In addition to sports programs, NOW has offered scholarship support to local Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops, including: Boy Scouts Troop 21, with 6 scholarships; and Girl Scout Troop 65035 with 1 scholarship. Other ongoing partnerships with scholarship submissions expected for the remainder of 2018 include: Natchaug River Young Marines, NECONN Soccer, Quest Martial Arts, and WPTP Junior Football League.

“Since NOW was founded over seven years ago, the organization’s mission has been to provide ALL children, regardless of financial resources, equal opportunities to achieve & maintain youth wellness, beginning at an early age,” commented NOW Executive Director Sarah Wolfburg. “In 2017 we gave out over $21,000 in funds, and that number is set to grow for 2018. It is rewarding to see the children we serve benefit from participating in these activities, with a focus on growing their skills and character.” NOW funds all scholarships and programs through donations and fundraising events held throughout the year.

Three additional awards were given this spring to college-age students to support post-secondary education. In early May, the Northeast Opportunities for Wellness Norman Corriveau Scholarship was awarded to Brooklyn resident William Hamill at the 28^th Annual QVCC Foundation Scholarship Night. This annual $1,000 scholarship is endowed with the college and given to one student each spring. On June 21^st the NOW Book Award was presented to Plainfield High School students Sarah Wolak and Michael Bates. Established in 2015, the Book Award is given to two graduating high school students who have demonstrated a passion for fitness, nutrition, or athletics and who leads by example and fair play. Each year the NOW Book Award is presented at a different area high school, with past awards given to students from Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Killingly High School, and Woodstock Academy.