Citywide youth program hopes to eliminate substance abuse, crime
CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) - The Cincinnati youth program, H3Cincy kicked off its new summer session Friday in hopes to bring empowerment to the community through basketball.
H3Cincy Summer offers Cincinnati youth activities including mentoring, leadership development, and basketball team play through its five-week educational and athletic program.
The program provides youth with role models and opportunities to interact with and develop trust for the Cincinnati Police Department.
According to H3Cincy, their highest priority is to reduce, if not eliminate, substance abuse, crime, and fatalities on a large scale in Cincinnati.
The citywide youth character enrichment program was brought to the community through a partnership with Cincinnati Police Department, Boys Hope Girls Hope, and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, with new support from Russell Simmons and his prepaid debit card company, RushCard, which is headquartered in Cincinnati.
Through RushCard's Keep the Peace initiative, Boys Hope Girls Hope received a $25,000 grant, designed to support programs in their work to reduce violence and promote peace.
"Too many of our young people are dying needlessly in our communities. We must keep up the work to bring about change and provide safe neighborhoods for our youth," said Russell Simmons. "I am so pleased that RushCard is supporting organizations like Boys Hope Girls Hope Cincinnati in their work to reduce violence and promote peace."
The program runs Fridays from 6 – 9:30 p.m. August 7 through September 4 and the community is invited to watch any of the basketball games and participate in any of the activities at the Evanston, Hirsch, or Price Hill Recreation Centers.
For more information and to register, contact Debbie Bowman at dbowman@bhgh.org or (513)-721-3380.
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