The Greer Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association received a $3,000 grant to help fund the summer Youth Police Academy for middle school students.
The grant, from CresCom Bank employees from its foundation, will help fund overall expenses for the program, which introduces middle school students to police operations, team building and leadership skills. Separate two-week camps are offered for males and females.
• “The Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association is a very significant partner for the Greer Police Department. They’re like a small army that assists us in carrying out many of our community functions and communicate to the public what we do as a department and why we do things a certain way. We’ve had hundreds of citizens go through the Citizens Police Academy and they are invited to become active in the Alumni Association. We’re very grateful for their work.”
Greer Police Chief Matt Hamby
• “The Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association is an important part of the community and that’s one of the focuses that we have with the foundation. These particular funds will go toward the summer youth program, which is very important. If we instill good values and show our youth how to be a part of the community that will in turn create productive citizens of the future who will be living and working in our community.”
• April Staggs, CresCom VP of Commercial Lending
• “Last year there were a couple of mix-ups at the last minute with sponsored lunches that we went ahead and paid for. The budget was also short for uniforms and the promotional brochure. So this grant will help with general expenses. … Without (the grant) it would be more difficult for us to continue the Youth Academy.”
Citizens Academy president Dale Haule