Youth Program to Stay Open Through August
A popular youth program will continue for another two months, Ventura County officials announced Wednesday.
The El Rio Police Activities League was set to close July 1 because of budget cuts, affecting the 500 young people who belong to the group.
Supervisor John Flynn and Sheriff Bob Brooks said they have agreed to share the cost of paying Deputy Claudia Duffner, who runs the El Rio program, through Aug 31.
Flynn’s share of the $15,000 will come from private foundation funds his office has raised through the years, and Brooks will cover the other half from the department’s budget.
Flynn said he and other program supporters will spend the next two months continuing to raise private donations and searching for grants to keep the program alive.
The league organizes supervised sports leagues, dances and other activities for youths, and is the only group offering after-school programs in a $3-million community gym that opened last year.
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