Henderson nonprofit offers at-risk children a place to ‘monkey around’

By Paul Takahashi

Monday, March 21, 2011 | 1:55 a.m.

A few weeks ago, Henderson resident Kelli Kennedy began hunting for suitable extracurricular activities for her two children.

She found a number of programs, but there was just one problem.

“We couldn’t afford most of the places we saw,” she said.

That is, until she heard about The Monkey Gym, a new nonprofit center in Henderson that provides a unique combination of athletics and art to help keep children off the streets.

“It’s nice to be able to let my kids come here and enjoy the classes,” Kennedy said. “This feels like a family place.”

That was the idea behind The Monkey Gym, a 6,515-square-foot recreational center that caters primarily to low-income families, at-risk youth and children who have faced traumatic events, said co-founder Tony Cooper.

“We wanted to help at-risk kids,” said Cooper, who has been an art teacher and wrestling coach at nearby Chaparral High School for the past eight years. “They’re the ones who need this the most.”

Since Cooper and co-founder Kerry Cutler opened the new center, 1999 Whitney Mesa Drive, on Jan. 15, about 150 children have enrolled in a variety of programs, from wrestling and cheerleading to gymnastics and drawing. Classes and activities are offered for a monthly membership fee of $33 per child.

Kennedy brings her two children – 12-year-old Timmy and 14-year-old Anna Joy – four times a week to the center. The single mother pays a reduced rate of $17 a month per child, which provides six hours a week of tumbling classes for Timmy and art classes for Anna Joy.

“They like coming here. It’s enjoyable,” Kennedy said. “I really like the small, personalized classes.”

The art classes have been invaluable for Anna Joy, who has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, Kennedy said.

“It’s been difficult for her to manage her stress,” Kennedy said. “This has given her a lot of confidence and a new friendship with her teacher.”

About 60 percent of the children, ages 3 to 18, who come to The Monkey Gym are low-income, said program director Maida Yelvington-Brown. The center is working on attracting children in foster care and the juvenile justice program to help them cope with their challenges, she said.

“Our program is designed to help kids express suppressed emotions in a fun way,” Yelvington-Brown said. “There is nothing here that labels them … It’s really a good opportunity for them to build their self-confidence, their self-interest and their self-esteem.”

To that end, The Monkey Gym is partnering with a variety of community organizations, such as the local Boys and Girls Club. The nonprofit recently marketed its program on online coupon service Groupon.com, selling 70 coupons for classes.

“We got a lot of e-mails and calls,” Yelvington-Brown said. “It was really exciting and a good opportunity for us.”

Still, the new center is looking for more community partnerships to keep costs low for their clients and to launch new programs, Cooper said.

The Monkey Gym recently finished a cheerleading camp, and is looking to start a wrestling camp. On the art side, Cooper said he is hoping to have his students paint murals at local trailheads and for private businesses.

“We need businesses to sponsors our kids and classes,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much that would help.”