Our Story
Our story began with a simple belief: that every child deserves the opportunity to develop their character through the power of art and movement. As we listened to families in our community, we recognized two important needs: enriching opportunities for children outside of school hours and reliable, high-quality after-school care that supports working families. Many parents face the daily challenge of finding safe, meaningful care for their children between the end of the school day and the end of the workday. We saw an opportunity to create something more than traditional aftercare—a place where children are not simply supervised, but encouraged to grow, explore, and discover their potential. What began as a vision to serve local families has grown into a mission to provide enriching programs that nurture the whole child through the arts, movement, education, and community engagement. Our after-school programs combine academic support, creative exploration, physical activity, and opportunities for social connection in a safe and welcoming environment.
A unique part of our mission is our partnership with Santiam Ballet Academy, which allows us to incorporate quality movement and dance instruction into our programming. We believe movement is more than exercise—it builds confidence, discipline, self-expression, teamwork, and joy. Alongside dance and movement opportunities, children can participate in arts, enrichment activities, homework support, and community-centered experiences that help them thrive. At Santiam Youth Foundation, we are committed to creating opportunities that are accessible to all families, regardless of financial circumstances.
Through community partnerships, volunteers, donors, and supporters, we work to remove barriers so every child has the opportunity to participate, learn, and grow. We envision a future where every family has access to dependable after-school support and every young person has access to enriching experiences that help them discover who they can become. Together, we are building a place where families are supported, creativity is encouraged, movement is celebrated, friendships are formed, and futures are shaped.