About Us

The Youth Activity Center (“YAC”) is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that provides a quality, enriching after-school program for children in grades kindergarten through 5^th grade. Our program emphasizes physical fitness,  academic excellence, character development, and life skills.  Children are picked up by the YAC bus from various elementary schools Monday through Friday. Each day begnis with a healthy snack which is followed by assistance with homework assignments. Depending on the day of the week activities include: art, music, yoga, sports, computer lab, ecology, gardening, field trips or community service. Our day concludes at 6:00 P.M. and parents can pick up their children any time after 4:00 P.M.

Tuition is $250 a month for the first child, $200 for the second sibling, and $150 for each additional sibling. Tuition assistance is available to families who meet certain criteria. YAC accepts Early Learning Coalition scholarships and works with Children’s Service Council and Prime Time after-school accreditation.

The Center is conveniently located on the ground of Veterans Park in West Boca Raton, Florida.

Mission

To provide an enriching, affordable after-school program promoting academic achievement, physical fitness and life skills in a nurturing resource-filled environment.

History

In 1995 Ellen Vahab was a young, single mother with three small boys. She endured an exhaustive, fruitless search to find an enriching, affordable after-school care that would allow her to work and provide a living for her family. Unable to find a satisfactory program she recognized the tremendous need and decided to start an after-school program.

Since its inception, YAC has served over 3,000 children from six Boca Raton area schools enrolled in kindergarten through grade 5. The majority of the children served come from low income households, broken families and/or are immigrants. The Center utilizes the services of volunteer translators to communicate with parents and children in their native tongues. Languages offered include Spanish, Portuguese and Creole.

YAC has become the model for grassroots, nonprofit after-school programming. General Colin Powell deemed YAC the first, “Center of Excellence” in Palm Beach County. America’s Promise recognized the Center as the First Neighborhood of Promise in Boca Raton and The Alliance for Youth named YAC the Number One Youth Center of Promise. The Palm Beach County Quality Assessment Office gave YAC the highest score of any after-school program and the Center was named a Top 100 charity by ExtraOrdinary Charities.

To learn more about YAC please call 561-305-0074 or click here.