Oct 23, 2012 4 min read

Joyce Ellis and local volunteers at the LeMoyne Multi-Cultural Community Center in East Washington have spent the month of October in England with about 35 Washington youngsters. Granted, they haven’t left Southwestern Pennsylvania, but every day after school, they have traveled on a virtual journey to the British parliament and beyond. Next month, they will explore a new location.The learning adventure is part of the Homework and More Afterschool Program, created by Ellis and operated by volunteers from Washington & Jefferson College and California University of Pennsylvania, from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. During the summer, Ellis runs a similar program called Camp Challenge, an eight-week program designed to empower the area’s youth through education, sports, health and fun.Both programs are free to students in the Washington area who qualify for free or reduced school lunches.However, both programs have become so popular there is a waiting list of students eager to participate.The Audia Caring Heritage Association hopes to reduce that waiting list during its fifth annual Charity Gala, “A Taste of Italy,” Thursday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Meadow Lands. Proceeds from the event will be used to expand children’s programming at the LeMoyne Center. Launa Post, project manager for Audia Caring Heritage Association, said she hopes this year’s event will raise at least $15,000.”The reason we selected the Lemoyne Center was that we heard they were doing great things,” Post said. “After we talked to Joyce and personally witnessed her passion and enthusiasm for the children, we were committed to putting our energies here this year. You can’t help but be mesmerized by this woman. Every movement of her body and expression on her face is full of passion and desire to make a difference in these kids’ lives.”And Ellis’s programs have made a difference. When the afterschool program started, only a handful of students registered. Now there are 75 children enrolled, and an additional 90 students are on a waiting list. In addition, Ellis said several students have improved their grades and are now on the honor roll.When the students arrive after school, the first order of business is to complete their homework assignments. Ellis then introduces them to lessons in culture and geography.”Once the children realize that learning can be fun and that they can retain information, understand it and make it useful in their lives, it puts them on a whole other plane,” Ellis said. “We have had zero fighting or resistance with the kids participating in either of our programs. They are just eager for more every day.”Each day is a new experience for the students. Next week, the afterschool group will learn to shop with British currency and, in return, will learn to grasp the value of the American dollar.Next month, the students will learn about Italy. At the end of each journey, Ellis plans to visit the nationality rooms at the University of Pittsburgh.”There are interactive things to do in each country that can drive our point home to them even more,” said Ellis, who is in the process of arranging for a woman from England to speak with the students and an opportunity to skype with students in England.”I was quite honored to be chosen as the recipient of this year’s fundraiser,” Ellis said. “We have yet to have any annual fundraiser or appeal to our cause, so this gift has come in a timely manner.”For information about the charity event, call Audia Caring Heritage Center at 724-225-8664. For information about the LeMoyne Community Center and its events, call 724-228-0260 or email lemoynecc@yahoo.com.