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The Children of Ludlow After
School Program (CLASP) is
a mission partner with the Presbytery. It has stated in its
mission as: CLASP is committed to
providing a high-quality, non-denominational, faith-based
after-school program in a clean, safe, caring environment
for Ludlow (KY) students in grades one through five.
CLASP was
established by two members of First Presbyterian Church of
Ludlow in 1998 to provide safe, fun, healthy, productive
options for Ludlow children after school. CLASP sees that
some 35 to 40 students are fed, supervised, helped with
homework, prayed with, and given time, space and supervision
for play and healthy recreation for two hours per day, five
days per week during the school year. Although CLASP is a
Christian faith-based organization, there are no religious
requirements for enrollment.
CLASP
volunteers and part-time paid staff of 5 people are
essential to our success. We are blessed with our faithful
board members, many of whom are “hands-on” in day-to-day
CLASP operations, as well as being administrative leaders
and decision-makers. A number of other volunteers come from
Community of Faith, Lakeside, and Crescent Springs
Presbyterian churches. We are grateful for the enthusiastic
support of Rev. Don Smith, Rev. Chris Torrey, and Rev. David
Ealy, as well as Presbyterian lay leaders, who regularly
lead the daily devotionals and participate in special CLASP
programs and celebrations.
In 2004 CLASP
became an independent 501(c)(3) organization under oversight
of a 14 person board of directors, half of whom must be
Presbyterians. As of 2008, support for CLASP’s $54,000
budget included parent fees (27%) and critical sustaining
support (33%), primarily from two Presbyterian churches:
Community of Faith Presbyterian (formed when 1st
Presbyterian Church of Covington merged with 1st
Presbyterian Church of Ludlow) and Lakeside Presbyterian.
The other 40% comes from friends, foundations, fund-raisers
and the unplanned grace of God. The Presbytery of Cincinnati
provided a grant of $2,500 in October 2008.
New
fund-raising efforts in 2008 have yielded donations from two
foundations, a trust, and an Art Club. CLASP partnered with
a Masonic Lodge on their Valentine Dance and sponsored a
spaghetti dinner as fund-raisers. Other financing has come
from about 200 individual friends and supporters who give
throughout the year. We count on these supporters for
approximately $13,000 a year. We are grateful for their
faithful partnership and generosity.
With the
economic downturn, CLASP is at a critical juncture in
continuing to try to provide a high-quality program at an
affordable cost to low-income parents in the face of rapidly
falling donations from all sources. With God’s help, we can
meet the challenge in 2009 and 2010.
Bill Lindsay,
CLASP Board Chairperson
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