Grants enable groups to expand teen programs

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
   HILLSBOROUGH — As the township continues to support teen programs for kids in seventh through 12th grades, Committeewoman Lisa Nisivoccia announced Sept. 9 that the Somerset County Youth Services has given $7,500 in a grant to continue youth programs in the coming months.
   The grant money will go to the Saturday Night Teen Nights and the Girls on the Run programs.
   Ms. Nisivoccia said the annual grant for the township is usually $5,000, but, this year, Hillsborough is receiving one-time additional funds for the Girls on the Run program.
   ”We hope that all the kids could be encouraged by having programs for them,” said Sally Treonze, chairwoman of the Saturday Night Teen Nights at the Somerset Valley YMCA of Hillsborough, on East Mountain Road. The teen nights program received $5,000 through the grant. “We have been getting the grant for 10 years. We are very fortunate the county has accepted our programs.”
   Ms. Treonze said the teen nights are held bimonthly at the YMCA, and are sponsored by the Hillsborough Township Youth Services Commission. With a $30 payment for a registration card to attend all the offered teen nights, she said kids can take advantage of the YMCA pool, play BINGO, participate in a crab soccer game and be eligible for a $10 gift certificate to Blockbuster, among other activities throughout the night.
   According to Ms. Treonze, the event is open to students in grades seven through 12, but the majority who attend are in grades seven through 10. She said about 100 to 200 people usually register.
   ”This is a safe place to be for a minimal amount of cost,” she said. “They get to use the YMCA at a prize you couldn’t be a member for.”
   The grant money, Ms. Treonze said, is matched for the program by funds coming from clothing bins located in the parking lot of the municipal building, thus adding no additional costs for taxpayers. She said she was instrumental in getting certain bins to be placed at the property and the money paid by the company to rent the bins at the municipal building goes toward renting the rooms in the YMCA for the nights.
   ”The rental fee is paid back to the township, and then given to youth services, (which gives it to the program),” she said.
   The teen nights, which also offer light snacks, are held on the second and fourth Saturday nights of every month from September to June, excluding December. The event is held from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
   ”This is a well-chaperoned program,” Ms. Treonze said. “It is a safe place for kids to meet with friends.”
   Also receiving money through the grant is the Girls on the Run program, which allows fifth-grade girls to train for a 5K race at Auten Road Intermediate School.
   ”Girls on the Run is a self-esteem building running program,” said Amy Pinard, who runs the program at Auten Road School. “We train together for a 5K race while building strength, stamina, friendships and belief in self.”
   Ms. Pinard said the program is receiving $2,000 from the grant, which will go toward coach salary and other necessities for the race for the about 25 girls participating. Another $500 was given through the grant for any incidentals in the program.
   According to Ms. Pinard, there are two different races held during the year, one in the fall out of town, and another in the spring at Duke Island Park.
   ”Many other Girls on the Run programs in the area come out to participate as well,” she said.
   The presentation of the grant from the Somerset County Youth Services was held Tuesday.