It didn't take long for all of the buzz about the nCenter to reel in Iven Love.

"They have some nice summer programs and I heard it had nice activities here," says Love.

Love just joined today -- the very day Executive Director Gerald Lott announced the group received a grant from the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. The Salvation Army applied for the money and had already committed it to the nCenter before passing off the program's operations to Mr. Lott. Lott won't reveal how much the grant is, but says it's a start.

"It's not going to save us by a long shot but it gives us enough to limp along for the next ten months," he says.

The money will help fund a six-week college awareness and ACT prep course for 30 high school juniors. It's geared towards those at risk of not going to college or pursuing their dreams.

"They will do career exploration, college exploration where we actually send them on line to look for colleges that are appropriate to majors that will further their career," says Lott.

This grant will also help pay the nCenter's bills, which are mounting. Especially since about ten new students are now signing up each day. The nCenter's buzz is traveling fast to students like Love and 140 others who showed up last Friday alone. That's about triple a typical day's enrollment.

The nCenter offers 21 classes each week and provides at least one meal a day. Lott says he's always looking for donations, especially meals and services. In order to keep operating, he says he'll continue applying for grants and searching for outside help.