As a result of generous donors, the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania will award more than $2 million to 65 regional organizations, so they can help provide safe, in-person programming for school-age youth this summer.

Six of the organizations that benefited from the “Welcome Back” initiative are in or serve Butler County, according to a news release from United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“This has been an incredibly tough year for kids and families,” said Bobbi Watt Geer, president and CEO of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. “Our goal is to bring back the joy of summer, ensuring that across our region we can foster curiosity, fun and learning for our children as we collectively emerge from the pandemic.”

The Butler County organizations receiving part of the Welcome Back funds are Butler County Family YMCA, Community Care Connections, Glade Run Lutheran Services, Kid's Innovation Playground, Slippery Rock Parks and Recreation department and Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania.

Jill Zoria, director of marketing, strategy and development at the Butler County Family YMCA, said she is thrilled the Y was chosen to receive a Welcome Back grant.

“That is just fantastic news,” Zoria said.

The $20,000 granted to the Y will enhance the in-person summer programs utilized by the hundreds of children who will be in the Y's care this summer, she said.

“We will ramp up our in-person summer programming because of this grant,” Zoria said. “We'll expand what we have in the budget.”

The United Way is asking recipients to write a detailed essay on how the lives of the children in the in-person programs were enhanced by the grant, which Zoria said she will definitely do.

She said the Welcome Back grant funds will be disbursed June 2.