Funding

Funding Needs

The programs and activities of Jones Center are wellness-focused versus problem focused and, thus, Jones Center is an integral part of the everyday life of the neighborhood.

Our programs target the following three groups - At-Risk Youth, Senior Citizens, Low-Income Community Members.

State of the Community

According to the 2000 Census, the population of Chicago Heights is 32,776. Of this number 23.3% of households have a family income below $15,000. The majority of households included in this subset are located on the East and South Sides of Chicago Heights - Jones Center's main target areas.

In regard to our youth, Jones Center mainly targets two schools in District 170 in our immediate service area, Gavin Elementary and Lincoln Elementary. These schools serve the majority of Chicago Heights' families with incomes under $15,000, have high school graduation rates of less that 60%, and are considered the lowest performing schools in this district.

Nearly all of the students enrolled in the targeted schools are from low-income families where 100% of the students receive free or reduced fee lunches. Approximately 97% of the students served in our programs are African American with the remaining 3% white and Hispanic.

These low-income students come from families who are:

1. receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
2. from primarily single parent households
3. living in housing projects, and
4. supported in foster homes with public funds.

The students in these two schools have consistently scored below state averages in reading, writing, and mathematics. Jones Center is one of a very few service providers located in the heart of this community dedicated to specifically improving the academics of these youth.

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