As a member of the national Fund IRL movement, Fund IRL Virginia is a VPOST-led coalition working to ensure settlement payouts from social media lawsuits are invested in programs and services that help young people thrive, including afterschool and summer opportunities.
Virginia Has a Historic Opportunity
In one of the largest consumer-protection settlements in history, Meta Platforms, Inc. was ordered to pay $17 billion to Virginia and 47 other states. Over the next 10 years, Virginia will receive $353 million to repair harm to young people.
This funding is a historic opportunity to invest in afterschool and summer programs that offer real-life connections and are proven to support youth well-being.
VPOST applauds Attorney General Jay Jones for recognizing the need to invest these funds in unplugged programs. Read a story and press release about the settlement.
Afterschool Is An Antidote!
Young people need a healthy alternative to social media. Afterschool and summer programs provide youth with “in real life” (IRL) opportunities: a safe place to connect with friends and mentors, build relationships, and gain life skills.
Virginia parents agree: 84% say afterschool programs decrease kids’ screen time and encourage fun and learning.
See more research and read the op-ed “Use social media settlement dollars to help Virginia kids touch grass” by VPOST Executive Director Blaire Denson and Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed.
Help Us Help Virginia Kids
VPOST is one of 50 state afterschool networks dedicated to informing policy, developing partnerships, and shaping practices to ensure youth have access to quality out-of-school time programs.
As a trusted advocate for afterschool and summer programs across the Commonwealth, VPOST is uniquely positioned to lead our state’s Fund IRL coalition and help turn this historic opportunity into meaningful investments for Virginia youth.
Join our growing coalition to get updates, access tools, and connect to a national network working to support youth well-being.
Members are working to:
– Raise awareness by sharing coalition messages, posting on social media using the Fund IRL toolkit, and hosting site visits to youth programs.
– Connect coalition leaders with key state decision-makers in their network.
– Participate in coalition meetings by sharing expertise, insights, and resources.
– Show support by displaying their organization’s name and logo on this webpage and other coalition materials.
Get involved today! Together we can help ensure our leaders put social media settlement dollars to work for Virginia’s young people.
Coalition Members
