The mission of For Kids Only Afterschool is to support the needs of children through strong partnerships with families, schools, and communities, together providing social, academic, and cultural learning opportunities that build upon individual strengths and interests, necessary for lifelong success. Founded by a teacher and working parent who joined together to start an afterschool program for their local community in 1984, FKO now operates school-year and summer programs in East Boston, Everett, Peabody, Revere, Salem, and Winthrop, Massachusetts. FKO targets its programming toward children from diverse backgrounds including low-income, academically underperforming, socially isolated, and at-risk youth and now serves more than 850 children at 18 program sites. FKO’s innovative programs offer children a chance to explore new ideas, learn collaboratively with peers, and acquire new skills, while promoting self-confidence, social and emotional development, and positive relationship building.