Fontana – Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) announced that he has secured $317,440 in funding for the City of Fontana’s Jack Bulik Teen Community Center. Baca ensured that this funding was set aside in the Fiscal Year 2005 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Budget.

The funding will be provided as a 3-year grant secured by Baca as an earmark under the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) program of the United States Department of Education.

Rep. Baca said, “This grant will enhance the quality of life for families in our district, making students safer and better prepared academically. The Center is a valuable resource for students in Fontana, providing opportunities to learn, play and grow in a safe, supportive environment while their parents are working. I am happy that the Center will now be able to expand its programs and serve even more youth.”

The Jack Bulik Teen Community Center provides recreational, mentoring, and academic resources to help local area youths. At this facility, children use computers, do homework, watch movies and engage in other after-school recreational and educational activities.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that most youth crime and victimization occurs after school between the hours of 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. The Center focuses on providing a safe environment for local area youth during this critical time period, and offering teens an alternative to gangs, drugs, and other criminal activities.

The Center has previously served students up to 10^th grade, but the funds from this grant will enable the Center to expand its programming to also include students in grades 10 through 12.

“The Teen Community Center’s after school, volunteer, and career training programs truly fill a need among the youth of our community. I am proud to have worked with the Center on this effort, and I know that together we will continue to ensure that Fontana youth have a nurturing place where they can grow up safe, happy and strong,” said Rep. Baca.