2022 competitive grants cycle provided more than $1 million to 46 local nonprofits
Tampa, Fla. (Sept. 1, 2022) — The Community Foundation Tampa Bay awarded $221,966 to eight area nonprofit projects in the area of Positive Education, designed to promote environments that meet students where they are developmentally, and to emphasize a growth mindset in students. These grants are part of the Community Foundation Tampa Bay’s 2022 competitive grant cycle, which awarded over $1 million to fund 47 projects with 46 area nonprofits.
Positive Education is one of five focus areas for the Community Foundation Tampa Bay’s competitive grant cycle. As part of this focus, the Community Foundation Tampa Bay funded projects that develop critical life skills in young people, increase kindergarten readiness, and support curriculums that encourage social-emotional learning and growth mindsets.
“Today’s children face greater education challenges and social pressures than they did a generation ago,” said Marlene Spalten, President and CEO of the Community Foundation Tampa Bay. “The Foundation is proud to invest in our children’s growth, resilience and development through local nonprofits.”
The eight organizations receiving grants for projects under the Positive Education Targeted Focus area are:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay received $25,000 to develop a new program, Reading Enrichment, by employing a Certified Educator, specializing in Literacy and Reading. They will create literacy modules and provide hands on instruction to club staff, improving the literacy programming at the Wimauma Club. The goal will be to increase literacy programming quality, create replicable literacy modules for specific age ranges, and train staff to continue to offer this programming after the grant is complete.
- Frameworks of Tampa Bay, Inc. was awarded $40,000 to continue its “SEL-ect School Model” social and emotional competency skills programming for 900 students at West Tampa and Potter Elementary schools in Tampa. The program includes a readiness assessment, dedicated curriculum, research-based resources, coaching, family resources, professional development, data analysis and more.
- Gentlemen’s Quest of Tampa Inc. received $20,000 for its Life Class and STEMQuest programs for at-risk, minority, teenage students to explore STEM careers through weekly after-school meetings and summer programs. Participants build their intellectual, emotional, and relational capacity and construct an identity based on respect, accountability, and responsibility.
- Parents and Children Advance Together (PCAT) Literacy Ministries, Inc. was granted $16,405 to continue after-school reading assistance and educational support to 66 kindergarten and first grade students at Ruskin Elementary. In addition, PCAT is planning to engage South Hillsborough County community members and volunteers in supporting positive education.
- Pinellas Education Foundation was awarded $35,000 for The Pinellas Early Literacy Initiative to improve literacy instruction for pre-kindergarten through second grade students. With the grant and other community support, Pinellas Education Foundation will add 10-12 learning coaches to support more community-based PreK providers.
- R’Club Child Care, Inc. received $21,982 to support its Early Learning Enhancements Project for 548 children at eight Early Learning Academies in Pinellas County. The project supports high-quality early childhood education and effective parent engagement, which is integral to high-quality early learning programing.
- Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc. was awarded $48,579 for its Foster Grandparent Program, which addresses education inequities for 720 impoverished minority students in pre-kindergarten through third grade. With the grant, volunteers will receive training and resources on social-emotional learning that can help students overcome life obstacles.
- United Way of Hernando County, Inc. received $15,000 to support Hernando’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program. This program encourages early literacy and prepares children for academic success by mailing age-appropriate books to child under the age of 5 that’s pre-enrolled in any Hernando County pre-school.
“We’re investing in our future by investing in our children,” said Jesse Coraggio, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Community Impact at Community Foundation Tampa Bay. “Enhanced education and healthy development strategies ensure our children are ready for success – academically and throughout their lives. This investment improves our region’s future.”
The funds are part of this year’s competitive grant cycle, which provided $1,041,646 to 46 local nonprofits, a record number, funding 47 individual projects. Nonprofits selected for grants focus on five targeted areas—community vibrancy, economic mobility, empowering women and girls, mental well-being, and positive education.
To learn more about the competitive grant process and how to apply visit: https://cftampabay.org/grants/
About the Community Foundation Tampa Bay
Founded in 1990, the Community Foundation Tampa Bay connects donors, nonprofits, community and business leaders, professional advisors, volunteers and residents to make the maximum positive impact in the Tampa Bay region. For more than 30 years, the Community Foundation Tampa Bay has been dedicated to making giving easy and meaningful for donors as a way to strengthen nonprofit organizations and build a better, more vibrant community. Since its inception, its donors have enabled the Community Foundation Tampa Bay to award more than $354 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the country.
