(File Photo of Senator Elder Vogel, Jr.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. announced yesterday the approval of more than $740,000 in Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) and Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants for two projects in the 47th Senatorial District. The Aliquippa School District was awarded $296,305 to launch Healthy Minds Club, which is a new after‑school initiative serving approximately 180 elementary students in grades 1–6 and it was approved for a BOOST grant. The program provides structured academic support alongside weekly physical and mental wellness activities and it is designed to address academic challenges, chronic absenteeism, social‑emotional needs and barriers such as poverty, housing instability, disabilities and limited English proficiency. Community Health Challenge of Southwestern Pennsylvania DBA Keystone Wellness Programs was awarded $446,627 to expand the Drug Free Aliquippa Youth Coalition, strengthen Aliquippa Impact’s after‑school and summer programs and launch a new cross‑age mentoring initiative connecting high school coalition leaders with elementary students. This project was approved for a VIP grant and is partnered with Aliquippa Impact.