FOLEY — The Dream Center of Baldwin County is pleased to announce it has received a $5,000 grant from The Community Foundation of South Alabama's Closing the Opportunity Gap Initiative. These funds support programs that will narrow the opportunity gap present among our local youth.

The Dream Center of Baldwin County, located in Foley and serves all of Baldwin County. The Dream Center is a diversion program that serves at-risk youth ages 12-18 and partners with Juvenile Justice and area schools to help break the cycle of abuse, victimization, and criminality by providing mentoring, evidence-based programs such as S.P.A.R.K. and T.E.A.M, conflict resolution training, drug and alcohol education and accountability, classroom tutoring and homework assistance, financial assistance for clothing needs and extra-curricular activities, a food pantry, work force readiness, and college application assistance.

"We are appreciative of this new partnership with The Community Foundation of South Alabama," said Dream Center Executive Director Joe Aldrete. "We are committed to utilizing these funds to further our mission of helping the youth in Baldwin County overcome the socioeconomic barriers preventing them from achieving success in academics and in the community."

Funding from this one-year grant will assist the Dream Center of Baldwin County by supporting case managers in implementing its evidence-based programs and by providing daily meals, snacks, and activities for Dream Center participants.

"We are eager to fund organizations that are making efforts to close the 'Opportunity Gap' in our community," said Community Foundation of South Alabama President & CEO Rebecca Byrne. "Our funding and support ensure that our children will grow into capable adults who can contribute to a prosperous and sustainable society."

For more information on The Dream Center of Baldwin County, please visit: dreamcenterbaldwincounty.com and for the Closing the Opportunity Gap Initiative: communityfoundationsa.org