The annual competitive grant cycle that began in January, culminated in June with the awarding of $82,525 in Community Impact Grants to organizations working with "At Risk Youth".
Eighteen organizations working directly with our community’s most vulnerable populations will receive a record total of $82,525 from the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation. The Foundation’s Community Impact grant initiative will distribute these grants to organizations providing a variety of critical, innovative and effective services to at risk youth and their families in Glynn, Camden and McIntosh Counties.
This represents the largest number and highest total of grants in the Foundation’s history for the annual competitive grant program. The Foundation annually budgets $50,000, and this year, through the generosity of fund holders and friends who contributed $32,525, grantmaking significantly increased to meet the needs of eighteen recipients for a total of $82,525.
“Our comprehensive internal review process indicated that there were more qualified organizations providing critical services to this vulnerable population than we had budgeted for” stated Paul White, President & CEO of the Foundation. “Many of our fund holders rely on us to help them maximize the impact of their philanthropy. When we reached out to them apprising them of this opportunity, they responded and the gap was covered in less than 36 hours.”
In addition to donor-advised and field of interest grant-making throughout the year, the Community Foundation annually conducts a competitive grants cycle which targets specific areas of need and opportunity across the three-county region. Strengthening the services and partnerships of local, not-for-profit service organizations is part of the mission of the Community Foundation, and the grant process is designed to further this mission. Three (3) of this year’s 18 grant recipients are first-time awardees.
A brief description of the grant recipients and programs follows:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia, Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will provide furniture enhancements in the cafeteria as part of the Terrill Thomas Capital Campaign.
Camden Community Crisis Center, St. Marys - A grant of $5,000 for the Child Advocacy Program will provide educational and program supplies as well as equipment to support mental health and quality of life programs and activities for child victims of family violence.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Glynn, Inc., Brunswick and St. Marys - A grant of $4,675 will support a website overhaul to include services for both Camden and Glynn counties.
Children In Action Sports Club (CIA), Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will provide scholarships for the Summer Outreach program. CIA utilizes sports and activities as a vehicle to help at-risk children and youth build confidence, develop character, strive for excellence, and engage in teamwork while incorporating Christian values.
Coastal Coalition for Children, Inc., Brunswick - A grant of $1,700 will provide additional support for grandparents rearing their grandchildren by expanding the Early Childhood Home Visitation Program services to this group of caregivers.
Coastal Outreach Soccer*, Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will provide program support to improve the health and well-being of children from underserved communities in coastal Georgia by combining a soccer-based youth development program with academic support.
Communities In Schools of Glynn County, Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will support high school students in their professional development with tools that include the Birkman Personality Assessment, Interview Coaching, First Impressions, Self Leadership, and Communication/Customer Service Training.
The Gathering Place, Brunswick - A grant of $4,500 will support The Gathering Place’s summer college tour, which provides rising high school seniors the opportunity to tour a wide range of academic and technical colleges across Georgia.
Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Inc., St. Marys - A grant of $4,900 will support the delivery of the “HEROs Program (Helping Everyone Respect Others). The program gives girls valuable skills and tools to building healthy relationships and the confidence needed to prevent bullying and other negative behaviors.
Girls On The Run of the Golden Isles*, Darien - A grant of $4,250 will support an expansion of this positive youth development program for girls in 3rd-8th grades to McIntosh County. The research-based curriculum delivers 20 lessons over a 10-week period with the goal of building confidence, addressing health and developing skills to handle difficult situations.
Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will support “The Golden Isles Penguin Project” will provides young people ages 10-14 with developmental disabilities the opportunity to explore their creative talents and perform a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical.
Golden Isles Youth Orchestra, Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will support the creation and activities of the Golden Isles Traveling Symphony, a student-based performance piece, designed and performed by the orchestra ensemble and a youth drama group formed by Golden Isles Arts and Humanities. The program is designed to strengthen musical outreach and enrich students through music.
Marshes of Glynn Libraries, Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will continue the Targeted Early Literacy Parental Involvement Initiative across Glynn County. Building from the Community Foundation’s successful Baby Steps initiative, Marshes of Glynn Libraries educates parents and caregivers on the importance of developing early literacy skills for their children.
Morningstar Children and Family Services, Inc., Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will support the Art Therapy program for youth in residential foster care. Most youth at Morningstar have suffered with abuse and neglect. Through art, they are provided the opportunity to safely express thoughts and emotions while increasing self-awareness and self-esteem.
Safe Harbor Children’s Center, Inc., Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will support the Street Beat Program through the purchase of much needed computers and software to be used by youth for GED and ACT/SAT preparation and job searches.
Social Opportunities & Active Recreation, Inc. (SOAR)*, Brunswick - A grant of $5,000 will provide a one week “iCan Swim Program” that provides individualized specially-designed instruction for youth with disabilities to acquire water safety and swimming skills.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Darien - A grant of $5,000 will provide support for three programs: Community Cares Café/ Tutoring at Oak Grove Intermediate School; and the Community Youth Program. These programs are tailored to specific ages and seek to nurture children and young people to provide them with the life skills needed to successfully complete their journey to adulthood.
YMCA of Coastal Georgia, Inc., Brunswick and Darien - A grant of $2,000 will provide books for the Y Summer Camp Readers of the McIntosh and Golden Isles YMCAs. The program is designed to mitigate learning losses during school breaks, by encouraging children to read during the summer.
*denotes first-time competitive grant recipient