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Community of Faith Presbyterian Church (Covington),
Lakeside Presbyterian Church (Lakeside) and Crescent Springs
Presbyterian Church (Crescent Springs) are partnering in an
ongoing and vital urban mission project in Ludlow, Kentucky,
called CLASP (Children of Ludlow After School Program). We
continue to receive recognition and occasional financial
support as a mission partner of the Presbytery.
CLASP’s mission statement says: 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 K-6. CLASP was
established by two members of the First Presbyterian Church
of Ludlow in 1998, prior to the merger with First
Presbyterian Church of Covington to form Community of Faith
Presbyterian Church. We are serving a complement of
approximately 30 students during this fiscal year of
2011-12, with seven children on full scholarships. Our
fiscal year extends from July until June.
CLASP volunteers and the part-time paid staff of 3 people
are essential to our success. We are blessed with 15
faithful board members, many of whom are “hands-on” in
day-to-day CLASP operations, as well as being administrative
leaders and decision-makers. Volunteers come from our
partner Presbyterian churches, First Baptist Church of
Ludlow (FBCL), and from the community at large. We are
grateful for the enthusiastic support of Rev. Don Smith,
Rev. Chris Torrey, and Rev. Paul Anglin, Jr. (FBCL), as well
as Presbyterian lay leaders, who lead in daily devotionals
and special programs
CLASP has been a 501c(3) organization since 2004. Funding
for the program, which incurred total expenses of around
$29,000 during our 2010-11 FY, comes from parent fees,
support from our sponsoring churches: Community of Faith,
Lakeside and Crescent Springs Presbyterian churches, FBCL,
and the Presbytery of Cincinnati. We also obtain donations
from foundations and organizations, fund-raisers, and
numerous individual contributors. Thanks to our move to the
FBCL in the fall of 2010, our energy costs for the previous
fiscal year came in substantially under budget. Due to our
reduced operating expenses, we reduced our parent fees from
$75 in FY 10-11 to $50 per month, in FY 11-12. Both a joy
and concern is that the number of full and partial
scholarships has been increased this year, due to current
economic conditions. At the end of 2010 we received a
special peace and justice mission partnership grant of
$3,500 from the Presbytery of Cincinnati. This was expended
in the spring 2011, when we purchased video equipment,
games, educational videos, a refrigerator for snacks, and
special programs for the children from that grant.
Presbytery did not contribute to operating expenses in 2011.
One of the highlights of this year was when two of our PCUSA
mission workers from Nicaragua gave a program, accompanied
by photos, and answered the children’s questions about
missions in Nicaragua.
Although we have excellent support and commitment from
churches, Presbytery, and other sources in terms of
donations, our supply of volunteers is lagging. Many of our
long-time volunteers are retirees, who are increasingly
unable to serve, due to illness or physical limitations.
Please put us in your prayers for new, dedicated volunteers,
such as the ones that currently continue to serve CLASP so
faithfully.
In summary, CLASP appears to be in stable condition, in
terms of staff personnel, program, location, and finances.
In June, we will complete our 14th year of serving the
children and families of Ludlow.
Bill Lindsay, Chair of the Board of CLASP |
