The SHINE Afterschool Program wouldn't be possible without its strong network.

Director Rachel Strucko said the program began as a small idea in Carbon County and agencies and the schools responded in mass, supporting the initiative and welcoming it with open arms."What's amazing about SHINE is that it started in the community, through what they identified on where they wanted to go and what they wanted to change and in 11 years, look at what it has expanded into," Strucko said. "It's not just the SHINE teachers and staff and administration, but the area legislators, the superintendents, families. It's a community effort and the SHINE program is a true commitment to education."Over the past three years, UGI Utilities Inc. has given $100,000 to help cover costs for food for the students, an item that state and federal grants aren't allowed to cover, as well as projects in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics."UGI Utilities is literally woven into the fabric of the communities we serve and we feel very strongly about our responsibility to make them a better place to live and work," said Tracey Ciesnolevicz, community relations manager for UGI Utilities. "We know that funding educational programs, especially ones like SHINE, are the most effective ways to ensure a vibrant, strong future for tomorrow.The Panther Valley SHINE center recently announced that it will be partnering with St. Luke's to begin an health initiative for the students.Strucko said nutritionists, physicians and physical therapists will go into the centers to educate students on various health topics, do demonstrations on healthy eating and get them moving."SHINE really is a team approach because everyone works together to make sure we are doing the best for the Carbon and Schuylkill students," Strucko said.