FY20 Impact Report

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No one suspected what 2020 would bring. From unpredictability, restrictions,
sorrow, and fear to racial injustice, violence, death, and outrage, we’ve seen
it all. But we’ve also seen communities come together in solidarity to support
one another through COVID-19 and the intense realization of the pain so
many in our community—people of color—face every day. At AYS, we continue to
focus on the gifts of this time and how we can use our experiences to improve
our work and best serve our families and the community.

I owe special thanks to our staff—those at the forefront of youth
development—who are putting our AYS youth and their families first. This year
has been especially challenging for them as we have asked them to shift and
adjust again and again to re-imagine programming to best meet the most pressing need.

COVID-19 caused a lot of changes, but we continued to provide learning enrichment
and care for those who needed it most throughout the spring and summer. From operating
emergency pop-up sites for essential worker families during “stay at home” orders to
shifting our summer camps to enrichment programs focused on minimizing learning
loss, we’ve proven that even when every other window is dark, AYS keeps the
lights on. Throughout an unprecedented and uncertain time, we needed our families,
and they needed us. Program details can be found in the Program Stories section.

Additionally, the events of 2020 have encouraged AYS to reexamine its
strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion. While we have always been
dedicated to these ideals, it’s clear that a formal rededication, not just to
them, but to anti-racism and anti-discrimination, is necessary. Therefore, we
formed an advisory council that will guide us in improving policy and
practice. We are committed to building and supporting an inclusive
team of diverse individuals through intentional hiring, placement and
on-going training so we can continue to weave diversity, equity, and
inclusion into the fabric of our organization.  

We know our current enrichment model, while critical to many, does
not serve all. Therefore, we are launching a community assessment with key
stakeholders that will help us craft our programming models to ensure all
kids in central Indiana have access to quality social emotional learning and
academic supports. We want Indiana kids to have the best tools in their
backpacks to map their path to success. 

Through the generous support of our donors, including the Coca-Cola Company
and the United Way of Central Indiana, we’ve been keeping our programs going
despite the difficulties of COVID-19. In FY19, we received a generous endowment
from Lilly Endowment, Inc., and we’re leveraging a portion of those funds to perform
a much-needed technology upgrade and complete a community assessment. 

We know this year has made families struggle financially and emotionally,
and we’re here to help by providing a safe, enriching environment where
children can learn and grow while parents are at work. We appreciate all
of the support we’ve received so far, and we’re grateful to have you in
our AYS family.

Sincerely,

Chrystal Struben
President/CEO

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*Values include funding for COVID-19 emergency support programming

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AYS held its fourth annual Lights On Luncheon: A Celebration of Afterschool on October 29, 2019. The event gathered more than 150 community leaders and 10 children from Fox Hill Elementary to celebrate the importance of out-of-school time programs in the community. The luncheon, which featured emcee Rafael Sanchez from RTV6 and AYS alumni Delaney Archibald, raised over $50,000 for the Ellen Clippinger Fund that helps low-income families more easily afford our programs.

Thank you to our corporate and foundation donors!

Thank you to our individual donors!

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