Foundation announces 2018 Second Quarter Discretionary Grants

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
For immediate release: July 9, 2018
Contact:
Dr. Michelle Foster, President and CEO
304.346.3620
Foundation announces 2018 Second Quarter Discretionary Grants

Charleston, WV – The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (TGKVF) Board of Trustees approved the distribution of fifteen grants totaling $359,029. One of these grants will support WV Food & Farm Coalition.

In 2015, a West Virginia University health educator focused her programming on introducing families to the Farmers Market. At the market, they conducted cooking demonstrations and recipe sharing. The Farmers Market reported a surge in SNAP sales of hundreds of dollars per week during that market season. This story was the inspiration for developing both the Farmers Market Promotional Program and SNAP Stretch. “When you buy from a local farmer, you support the community. You may have bought that farmer’s kid a backpack or paid their dentist bill.” – Johnny Sawyer, Farmer

TGKVF awarded seven responsive grants totaling $155,500 to Arts & Culture and Basic Needs programs and eight grants totaling $208,529 in the Foundation’s proactive priority areas of Education, Health, and Community Economic Development.

Regional Family Resource Network – Families Leading Change: $30,000 (Education)

Families Leading Change, a statewide grassroots movement, has partners across the education system to engage, promote, and train families who want to strengthen their community. This second-year renewal grant will allow further engagement of families in TGKVF’s service area, providing mini-grants for projects, training, and technical assistance.

Southern Appalachian Labor  school – Accent Education Project: $18,000 (Education)

The Accent Education Project will serve rural, at-risk students in the Upper Kanawha Valley and western Fayette County during the 2018-19 school year, including the summer of 2018. The program will provide core academic support with STREAM emphasis and enrichment opportunities for students and their families in a safe environment. As a fourth year renewal, this grant will support staffing, supplies, and meals for families.

Pollen8, Inc. – Appalachian Academy: $13,000 (Education)

The academy provides tutoring and homework assistance, enrichment classes, behavioral support, mentoring, and free nutritional meals to a cohort of 15 scholars who are rising 5th-7th graders. This second-year collaboration includes Pollen8, Inc., the City of South Charleston, South Charleston Middle School, and Richmond and Bridgeview Elementary Schools.

EnAct, Inc. – Graduation Mentoring Program: $18,600 (Education)

EnAct’s partnership with LifeBridge AmeriCorps supports the Graduation Mentoring Program. The program provides individualized support to with Boone and Clay County high school students with credit recovery, academic success, and life beyond high school. This first-year grant from TGKVF supports the cost of stipends for AmeriCorps members and the required supplies to implement the project.

WV Food & Farm Coalition, Inc. – Kanawha Valley Local Food Placemaking Project: $30,000 (CED)

This project will help farmers markets within TGKVF’s footprint become ready to accept Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives through WV SNAP Stretch and engaging attendees through family-friendly programming at farmers markets. The project will also assist two communities in developing and executing placemaking projects involving local foods.

Future of Nursing WV – Nurse Entrepreneur Pilot Project: $25,000 (CED)

In this pilot project, the Future of Nursing WV will collaborate with nursing and business building partners to provide the identification, education, coaching, and ongoing networking that nurses need to build and sustain independent health businesses. Funding will support staffing, training, and curricula development.

Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, Inc. – Oral Health Education and Dental Care for Low-Income Pregnant Women and Infants: $31,929 (Health)

The Women’s Health Center of West Virginia will provide oral health literacy education and dental care access to low-income, Medicaid-insured, high-risk pregnant women and parents of high-risk infants. These services will be offered in collaboration with West Virginia Health Right’s dental clinic to increase access to preventative dental care and improve health outcomes. This fourth year, renewal grant supports the Right from the Start social worker and supplies for the program.

Kanawha County Schools (Mary C. Snow) – Providing Holistic Care for Students on Charleston’s West Side: $42,000 (Health)

This funding will allow the school nurse to serve Mary C. Snow Elementary School as a full-time Health Care Coordinator. As coordinator, she serves as the liaison between the school and on-site dental clinic, Family Care Health Center, Handle with Care, Legal Aid, WV DHHR, and Project Launch initiatives. In so doing, the coordinator facilitates the engagement of the West Side community in holistic practices that promote good health.

Arts in Action – Classroom and Performance Supplies: $20,000 (Arts/Culture)

Arts in Action provides arts education and performance opportunities in Putnam and Kanawha counties. Funding will assist with dance, theater, and visual arts instruction; broadening the population served to include children and youth with developmental and physical disabilities; and providing needs-based financial aid.

Charleston Ballet, Inc. – Charleston Ballet Season: $17,000 (Arts & Culture)

Funding will support the Charleston Ballet’s 2018-19 season, assisting with guest artists’ expenses for nine to ten programs in October, December, and March. All performances exhibit educational and cultural diversity components and have mass appeal to all ages and economic levels including BALLET FOR ALL and 21st Century Learning Programs.

Community Development Outreach Ministries – Heart and Hand South Charleston & Heart and Hand Putnam County: $22,000 (Basic Needs)

Heart and Hand serves some of our community’s most vulnerable residents. Funding will support low-income families with their basic needs of shelter, food, clothing, baby needs, and clothing requirements for employment.

Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home, Inc.: $22,000 (Basic Needs)

The Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home is a transitional home for men in recovery from addiction. Funding will support utilities, food, and rent expenses.

Mountain Mission, Inc. – Emergency Financial Assistance Program: $20,000 (Basic Needs)

Mountain Mission’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program provides low-income individuals and families with financial assistance to meet catastrophic housing, medical, and nutritional needs. Funding will help the organization serve 200 households (440 individuals) in Kanawha County, with an emphasis on Charleston’s West Side community.

REA of Hope Fellowship Home, Inc. – Rea of Hope Utilities: $22,000 (Basic Needs)

Funding for this project will allow Rea of Hope to provide safe, affordable housing for West Virginia women focused on recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. This project houses women in a positive, homelike environment with an emphasis on the development of self-sufficiency.

YWCA – YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women and Families: $27,500 (Basic Needs)

Funds will support operation and essential services costs associated with providing emergency housing and basic needs assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the community.