SWEPCO, on behalf of the American Electric Power Foundation, recently gifted the Yvonne Richardson Community Center (YRCC) in Fayetteville, Ark., a $5,000 grant to support the nonprofit’s afterschool transportation program.

The center, named in memoriam of former Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball Coach Nolan Richardson’s daughter, was built in 1996 to provide youth recreational, educational and social opportunities. Programs are offered on an income-based sliding scale to help support low-income families. 

Children who attend the center's afterschool program participate in 30 minutes of reading/homework activity each day and are led in enrichment activities such as computer coding, theater, sports, gardening, cooking, music lessons, STEM programs and more.

“These funds that have been graciously given to us will help expand the reach of our center by allowing us to pick up children from local schools to participate in our afterschool program and then safely returned to their neighborhoods,” said YRCC Director Josh Lainfiesta. “By providing transportation to and from our afterschool program, we will be able to provide services to low-income families and to people of color who are currently unable to attend our program due to geographical and transportation barriers.”