YOUNGSTOWN - Lack of funding is forcing the shut down of a non-profit organization that hoped to tackle issues that adversely impacted the health, safety, education, and economic stability of generations of families in the Valley.

Youngstown Promise Neighborhoods announced on Thursday that it will cease operations at the end of this year.

According to a letter from YPN Board President April Alexander, the organization was only able to raise small amounts of funding needed for programs and events, but not enough money to build a staff and administer programs.

The organization has been involved in efforts including youth literature events, distribution of Coronavirus prevention kits, and a drive-thru health and wellness fair.

Starting in 2015 as Taft Promise Neighborhood, YPM’s mission was to break the cycle of systemic inequities often afflicting multiple generations of families.

That mission included access to better cradle-to-career educational opportunities, exposure to healthy lifestyles and wellness strategies, career stability and greater economic mobility, and improved neighborhood safety and infrastructure.

Youngstown Promise has worked with AmeriCorps Vista, the City of Youngstown, United Way, HUD, YNDC, Mercy Health, and others.

Alexander says details on continuing the work through a revised structure involving those organizations will be announced in the coming weeks.