Milestones

1984 FKO opens with seven students.

1985 Based on a flood of requests from working parents, full year programming—including a summer enrichment program—was added.

1988 FKO was incorporated as a 501(c) 3 public charity. The Winthrop School Committee responded to community advocacy efforts by making a commitment to address the need for increased quality, affordable, safe and fun programs for children's out-of-school time hours. Following a competitive bid process, FKO was awarded the contract and has successfully operated in the Winthrop Public Schools to the present day.

1989 Recognizing that 3 out of 5 parents in Massachusetts work outside the home, FKO introduced extended day classes for 30 kindergarten children.

1990 FKO partnered with other community-based organizations working with children and youth to launch a holiday project called "Families Helping Families". This fundraiser brought families and community members together to help needy Winthrop residents.

1998 Based on its successful track record in Winthrop, FKO was asked to provide additional out-of-school time programs in Revere, Massachusetts for the 1998-99 school year.

1999 Both the Revere and Winthrop Public Schools selected FKO as the contracted provider for their Department of Education After School 599 grants. This grant program supported efforts to strengthen the coordination between instruction that occurs during the school day and activities that take place after school for elementary and middle school children. As a result of the funds, children received homework help, after school snack, and academic, physical and recreation, and cultural enrichment activities. Although state funds for the project have been cut, FKO continues to provide these services with fewer resources.

1999 WCVB Television spotlighted FKO on Chronicle, its award-winning evening magazine program.

2000 Both segments were part of the station’s Keeping Kids On Track initiative designed to increase public awareness and funding support for after school programs.


2000 The Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services honored FKO with a School-Age Quality Award for demonstrating high-quality initiatives in the communities of Revere and Winthrop.

2000 FKO became one of five programs to share a $15,000 LOYD grant (Leadership Opportunities for Youth With Disabilities) from the Disability Law Center of Boston to create inclusionary programs for youth with disabilities. FKO implemented a Youth Leadership Project that matched "at-risk" and special needs middle school children and had non-disabled peer role models working as assistants to FKO camp counselors. All youth leaders received training in problem-solving, team building, CPR, first aid, and conflict resolution. Clear gains for the project participants were an increased sense of responsibility and initiative.


2001 The Massachusetts School-Age Coalition recognized Jennifer Anderson, FKO Program Director, with Director of the Year honors for outstanding leadership in the field.

2002 FKO successfully collaborated with the Winthrop Public Schools to develop a 21st Century Community Learning Center project. The state-funded project, which supports community learning sites operating during out-of-school hours, complements students' regular academic programs. The 21st Century fund helped support programming at three FKO sites during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 school years.

2003 FKO Executive Director, Deborah Kneeland, was included among the North of Boston Business and Professional Woman of the Year in recognition of FKO’s excellence.

2004 The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce named For Kids Only Afterschool the Winthrop Business of the Year.

2005 The Massachusetts School-Age Coalition named Joe Anderson, Director of the Bowdoin Street/Youth Connections site, Director of the Year.

2006 FKO Executive Director, Deborah Kneeland, was selected as the Regional Network Coordinator for the North Shore Chapter of the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership.

2007 FKO expands its programming to Salem, Massachusetts with the offering of selected enrichment classes.

2007 Executive Director, Deborah Kneeland, is appointed by the Mass Legislature to serve on the Afterschool and Out-of-School-Time Special Commission whose purpose is to develop recommendations on how to coordinate, expand and finance afterschool programming in the Commonwealth.

2007 Through a competitive bid, FKO was awarded the contract to be the partner and provider of afterschool programs throughout the Peabody Public Schools.

2007 For Kids Only, in partnership with the Peabody Public Schools and Mass Audubon Society, was awarded an ASOST (After-School-Out-of-School-Time) grant to provide extended learning opportunities in math and science for children in grades K-5.

2007 Everett Public Schools, in partnership with For Kids Only, was awarded an ASOST (After-School-Out-of-School-Time) grant to provide extended learning opportunities with homework help, literacy, and math for children in grades K-5 in all five FKO afterschool programs.

2008 For Kids Only becomes a United Way of Massachusetts Bay venture funded partner, which supports our programs in the areas of effective connections with schools, professional development and servicing at-risk youth.

2008 FKO received funding through the United Way Mass Bay Today's Girls, Tomorrow's Leaders grant. Through this initiative, FKO will provide programming that focuses on advancing the physical and mental health development of girls ages 7-18.

2008 The Everett Public Schools, in partnership with FKO, received a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant to provide Keverian School students with academic enrichment opportunities along with other activities designed to complement the students' school-day program.

2008 FKO received funding through the Meridian Charitable Foundation to purchase equipment for the enhanced Youth In Motion after school and summer program.