Columbia Association Awards More than $1M in Memberships and Programs to Low-Income Families, Celebrates 25 Years of CA Points Program
COLUMBIA, MD. – Columbia Association (CA) is celebrating 25 years of its CA Points program, which rewards student academic achievement and attendance with complimentary CA memberships for one year.
During CA’s Points Party, an annual celebration where students in the program are recognized and celebrated for their hard work, CA will reward 712 students and their families with CA Play or CA Fit&Play memberships active for one year starting June 1. Throughout the year, CA also provides free programming to participants, like tennis lessons and swim lessons. The annual collective value of support CA provides exceeds $1 million.
Through CA Points, students and their immediate family members can access CA facilities free of charge, including 23 pools, Columbia Ice Rink, Columbia SportsPark and more.
To qualify, students must be in third grade or above in a participating school, meet academic and attendance benchmarks, and have families enrolled in the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMs) program. CA works closely with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) to verify eligibility criteria.
“Through CA Points, we’re investing in student achievement and overall wellbeing across our community,” said Shawn MacInnes, President/CEO of Columbia Association. “By recognizing students’ hard work, we’re helping build confidence, encourage healthy habits and expand access to the recreational and wellness resources that make Columbia special.”
When CA Points launched in 2001, it served two schools. Today, 21 Columbia schools participate in the program. More than 10,000 memberships have been provided in-kind since the beginning of the program.
The CA Points program was recently recognized by the Health & Fitness Association’s (HFA) Foundation at its annual conference. HFA awarded CA a $5,000 grant in recognition of its strong commitment to community programming.
About Columbia Association (CA):
CA is and has always been here to enhance the quality of life in Columbia. We are committed to the founding goals of this unique and diverse community: stewardship, wellness and inclusion. To achieve this, CA owns and manages a wide array of spaces, facilities and programs that foster authentic connection. We hope you’ll find your own way to engage with us and work toward an even brighter future. Visit columbiaassociation.org for more information. Together, #WeAreColumbia.