Grants Made — Fiscal Year 2014-2015
Theme for 2014-15: Liberating the Peninsula Community — The Foundation chose to fund agencies which are providing transformational services especially for high barrier populations which are least served, least desirable to serve and the most vulnerable.
The Foundation’s 2014-15 funding was three pronged.
A $125,000 grant was awarded to the Center for Child & Family Services to support the Breaking Free Program, a prostitution diversion program and LAUNCH, a program designed to help youth aging-out of foster care, youth leaving residential treatment and youth exiting incarceration, gain the skills needed to successfully transition into adulthood. Both programs began with two 2013-14 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation grants.
The Foundation awarded four $20,000 Core Operating Support Grants. For these grants, the Board of Directors chose to give priority to the area of housing for high barrier populations. Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Gloucester Housing Partnership, Natasha House and Transitions Family Violence Services received the four grants.
One $100,000 grant was awarded to two agencies who would work in partnership, co-labor to Liberate the Peninsula Community. The partnership would enable the participating agencies to make a significant impact in addressing a need, or working toward a solution to a complex/serious problem. The recipients of the grant were VersAbility Resources and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula. The grant will fund a two-year Ready 2 Work program serving at least 60 Peninsula youth. Ready 2 Work is an intensive summer workforce development program for students with disabilities and those considered at-risk to bring these two diverse populations together to benefit from shared experiences and meet the critical need of preparing them for today’s competitive job market.
$5,000 for Discretionary Grants
$10,000 for emerging needs
$5,000 to provide a series of workshops for Peninsula non-profit agencies
$5,000 to enable Peninsula non-profit agencies to avail their leadership and staff of training