Q: What is the mission of the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation?

A: The Foundation creates opportunities for children whose family circumstances limit their potential to achieve productive lives. The DGYLF provides a loving environment where children find guidance in studies and in life. The Foundation operates Youth Life Learning Centers that provide comprehensive after-school and full-time summer programs that include academic instruction, friendship, and values-based training.

Q: What kind of foundation is the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation?

A: It is a 501(c)(3) faith-based foundation.

Q: What curriculum is used for academic enrichment?

A: The curriculum is tailored to meet individual needs and reinforce strengths for each child. The curriculum includes reading, writing, English, and math.

Q: Why do you focus enrollment on children between the ages of 5 and 11 years?

A: Since our primary goal is prevention, we rely on research, which tells us that attitudes, behavior patterns, and the way a child approaches people and academic study is established by the fourth grade. By enrolling participants in the program before those attitudes and patterns are fully formed, we can positively influence learning and behavior with an opportunity to achieve life-long results.

Q: What is the Foundation's relationship with the public school system?

A: There is no formal partnership with the public school system. We do work closely with principals and teachers for the benefit of the student participants and their families.

Q: How does the Foundation measure program success?

A: We follow the development of each child closely. As well as academic and behavioral performance, we make sure that children feel loved, supported, and accepted in their home and learning environments. Academic success is measured by student proficiency in all subject areas and individual performance of average or above on standardized tests. We also engage in independent qualitative and quantitative analyses. The most recent study revealed that children enrolled for a 12-month period show an average composite increase of 1 year and 8 months in reading, vocabulary, math, and spelling skills.

Q: Explain how the Foundation garners financial support.

A: The Foundation receives financial support from corporations, other foundations, government, churches, individuals, and special events.