Angie Miller President of The YMCA of Selma just can’t stop getting good news.

In the midst of a fund-raising campaign that has drawn national notice, the Y got another boost yesterday in the form of a nearly $200,000 grant from the Department of Education.

“That is great news,” Miller said. “God’s good.

Apparently we’re in his favor these days.”

The announcement came from the office of U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) saying the $199,754 will be used to implement mentoring programs for fourth- to eighth-grade students.

“This is new program,” Miller said. “This is just part of the overall scheme of the YMCA Board of Directors’ Vision.

It’s about meeting the needs of the community.

It’s about finding a way to make things happen.”

Shelby expressed his support of the Y in the release.

“I am pleased that the Department of Education is releasing these funds to the YMCA of Selma.

These funds will provide the YMCA with the resources to implement a mentoring program giving students the opportunity to have much-needed guidance and support at a critical age,” he said. “Mentorships help students build self-confidence, improve their academic performance, and understand the importance of working hard to achieve their goals.

The YMCA of Selma has an outstanding record of achievement, and I was pleased to support this program.”

Miller said Y officials originally applied for the grant for the 2004 fiscal year, and scored 98 out of 100 on the application.

However, so many applications scored highly that Selma’s YMCA did not receive any funding.

To help solve the problem, the Department of Education decided to fund the deserving programs that had been left out in the 2005 fiscal year, rather than ask for new grant submissions.