Three months later, in June 1995, a group of educators, business and
community leaders concurred with Dr. Young that there was a critical
need for an effective, free, permanent academic assistance program
designed to assist youth who were at risk of failing elementary school
because of their inability to read and calculate. Thus, a new
non-profit organization, the Bennie E. Goodwin Educational Foundation
was created. The foundation was established in honor of the program director's father, the late Reverend Bennie E. Goodwin.
After
approximately two years, the focus of the program was changed from
tutorial to skill building in the areas of reading and mathematics.Due
to the increased cost of implementing the Skill Building Program, the
Program could no longer be free; therefore, parents were requested to
invest a modest sum towards the education of their children.Since its
inception in 1995, the After School Academic Program (ASAP) has been
affecting positive changes in the academic performance and overall
learning readiness of the youth it serves.