A light in the lives of at-risk children will burn bright this year, as the SHINE after-school program will be fully funded in Carbon and Schuylkill counties, its director said this week.

“We will not be cutting any centers,” Rachel Strucko said Monday.

Local legislators and educators gathered earlier this year after learning the program with a proven track record of helping at-risk children succeed lost its grant funding.

At the time, they estimated that more than two dozen centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania would close, and decried the shift of funding to programs in Philadelphia.

Those same state legislators, including Rep. Doyle Heffley and Sen. Dave Argall, fought to keep the program, which helps children struggling with academics and attendance succeed and provides support in STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

“Rep. Heffley and Sen. Argall really worked together to stand up for Carbon and Schuylkill counties,” Strucko said.

None of the centers in Carbon and Schuylkill counties, which she oversees, will be closing, she said. They are fully funded and will be at their maximum capacity, Strucko said.

“We are extremely thankful,” she said.

Remaining open are SHINE centers in Palmerton, Weatherly, Panther Valley, Shenandoah Valley, Mahanoy Area, Carbon Career and Technical Institute, and Tamaqua Area, along with Cohort 11, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Northern Lehigh, she said.

The program, which also provides a hot meal and transportation home, is expected to begin at the end of September or beginning of October this coming school year, Strucko said.

Argall said that he was pleased that SHINE received the funding it needed to continue its vital after-school program.

“Thank you to everyone who worked with us to preserve this opportunity for kids throughout Carbon and Schuylkill counties — especially Rep. Heffley, he has been relentless in this effort.”

Restoring the funding took a lot of hard work, Heffley said, but he was happy and excited to see a proven program that gives children the tools they need to thrive and succeed in school and beyond continue.

“We’re very excited and happy to have the funding restored,” he said Monday. “We were able to work with our team in Harrisburg and our delegation to help get the money.

“It’s a wonderful program that so many families and children benefit from,” Heffley said.