LEAP faces funding challenges

The start of LEAP's after-school program is still more than a month away, but the program's board is getting anxious about whether it will have the funding to sustain this community staple.

Like with most organizations, the economic situation has affected the amount of donations coming in. But, LEAP is also facing losses in other areas of funding, mainly tuition.

"The board is feeling financial challenges. If they can't be tackled, it's Bigfork's loss. It's Bigfork's children's loss," board member Debbie Corder said.

The program, directed by Cathy Gaiser, is offered free to students who qualify for the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program, as well as by tuition to those who don't. It includes a wide range of activities to keep local children learning and active after-school until their parents get off work.

The Bigfork program has been deemed so effective that it was named "After-school Provider of the Year" by the Montana Department of Justice and the Attorney General's Office. That award will likely be presented sometime in August.

However, that doesn't solve the funding problems. Now that more than 50 percent of the students in Bigfork School District qualify for free and reduced lunch, those children also qualify to attend LEAP programs for free. That means a loss in tuition payers without any new students to really balance it out, board members said. Tuition has historically accounted for 25 to 30 percent of the budget. The tuition that is charged is about $80 a month on average, which is low for the service provided, board members said.

"We couldn't ask what it costs (to fund the program)," board treasurer Max Corder said.

That coupled with the fact that donations and small grants are down about 10 percent means two of the three funding sources for the program have seen significant drops.

"The whole Flathead Valley is very giving, but we understand people do need to pick and choose," board chair Monica Sabo said. "We want to make sure there is awareness (about our program)."

The other funding for the program comes from a 21st Century Learning Center grant administered by the state. That amount is fixed for its duration so that's the one source that hasn't changed.

Board members saw the signs last year. Expenditures for the 2009-10 year were $138,000, but only $135,000 in revenue came in. This year, Max Corder is anticipating a loss of approximately $10,000.

The program has 220 children registered, but about 80 is the daily average during the school year. Staff is a required expense. The program has expanded to include summer programs, due to another grant.

"People think this is a free program and it really isn't," Debbie Corder said. "We need adequate staff and volunteers."

The program does have a large number of volunteers to help out, board members said.

Though many community members think it is a program of CrossRoads Christian Fellowship, LEAP is actually an independent nonprofit that pays rent to the church to use some of its space.

Board members point out that the program offers a service for working parents whose children need care and activity after school. The program picks the children up by bus after school and then provides care and activities until parents can pick them up. The alternative would be for the children to go home and care for each other.

The program, board members said, allows these parents to continue working and eliminates the stress of having their children at home alone.

"Because we do have a lot of part-time residents and older residents whose kids have moved and grandkids don't live here, you have to understand that these are the children of the waitress that serves you in the morning, the repair man, the man who came and removed the fallen limbs from your yard," Max Corder said. "All of them are people doing the work — people who are really taking care of the infrastructure in Bigfork."

To help raise additional support for the program, board members have kicked off a Wall of Wine fundraiser to coincide with its fiesta Sept. 16.

Starting now, people can purchase raffle tickets to win 100 bottles of premium wine, which are currently on display at Coffee Cellar. This collection includes two prized bottles — one signed by Angelica Houston and another by Jack Nicholson.

Costs are $5 a ticket, six for $25 or 25 for $100. Tickets can be purchased up until the LEAP fiesta at a variety of locations around the Village.

Ticket holders need not be present to win.

For more information about LEAP, visit www.bigforkleap.org or call 837-LEAP.