Hoops and Homework founder Herb Chasan wasn't sure he'd get the $25,000 earmarked in the state budget to support his program.
"People told me, 'Good luck,'" said Chasan, who started the program in Framingham in 2012. "We were hoping and praying."
But when he found out this week that the money is coming through, he was "ecstatic, thrilled, super excited."
Hoops and Homework isn't alone, with many other small organizations and municipal services getting similar grants thanks to a successful effort by state Sen. Karen Spilka and other legislative leaders who urged Gov. Charlie Baker to release $150 million being withheld from the earmarks.
Some state leaders, including Spilka, don't believe Baker overstepped his authority in holding the money. Spilka is the chairwoman of the state’s budget-writing Ways and Means committee.
The governor's office ended up releasing $100 million in grants six months into the fiscal year after receiving pushback. Baker's press office did not return a request for comment by Friday afternoon.
Other grants include $100,000 for the Resiliency For Life program at Framingham High School, $50,000 for the Family Promise homeless response center and $100,000 for United Way's Call to Talk program, among others.
"These are things have been identified as a real need in the district and releasing these funds will help help fill some of the gaps for these organizations and help people live productive and healthy lives," Spilka said.
Spilka worked with Michael Heffernan, secretary of the executive office for administration and finance, to get the money released. Many of the organizations sent letters requesting the money, Spilka said.
At the end of November, the state took in $204 million more than projected in its benchmark, according to Spilka.
"There clearly were sufficient revenue to fund these items," she said.
In December, revenue in the state was $12.9 billion, $728 million or 6 percent of the year-to-date benchmark.
Hoops and Homework, a local after-school and summer program that serves underprivileged children, has two Framingham locations, one on Interfaith Terrace and the other on Pusan Road. It focuses during the school year on academics and social development, and provides full-day day care, clubs, academics and games during the summer. The organization operates on about $122,000 a year.
"We survive only on grants and donations," Chasan said. The grant money will help with tutoring, supplies and food expenses.
In the future, the organization hopes to expand its space and build new playgrounds at both locations.
Spilka is working to clarify the process in which the governor can withhold money approved by the Legislature.
"I hope we can resolve this and it doesn't happen again," she said.
As for the organizations getting the money set aside?
"It warms my heart," Spilka said.
Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 or jphelps@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.