360 EATS, Inc.

360 Eats Food Truck, $40,000

The 360 Eats Food Truck Project enables 360 Eats to acquire a food truck with a fully functioning kitchen. 360 Eats is seeking $40,000 from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to acquire the truck and help cover initial, minimal operating costs.

360 Eats already has the necessary partnerships and processes in place in terms of established food donation partners and meal recipient locations. However, 360 Eats is currently limited by its volunteers’ vehicles in terms of the amount of food that can be transported, both from a pick-up perspective and delivery of meals to local shelters and community centers. The food truck significantly expands 360 Eats’ impact, providing the ability to deliver over four times as many meals to food-insecure individuals and families throughout northern Pinellas County. This output is expected to increase as operations continue to scale. 

The population 360 Eats focuses on includes families with limited reliable transportation, unpredictable work schedules, and no means to prepare meals themselves. 360 Eats currently serves meals on a weekly basis at local community family and homeless centers. The food truck allows 360 Eats to deliver meals to new locations that lack functioning kitchens, thereby serving a greater population, including homebound seniors, the mentally disabled, and at-risk youth. Additionally, the high-quality nature of the meals served reduces any stigma associated with receiving food on a donated basis.

Friends of Carrollwood Cultural Center, Inc.

Arts Experiences for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community, $15,000

The Carrollwood Cultural Center seeks $15,000 support for Arts Experiences for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community, an initiative to expand our commitment to provide cultural and educational programs to a part of our community that is quite frequently left out of the mainstream arts and live performance world. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Florida has the second largest Blind/Visually Impaired (B/VI) population in the U.S. representing 2.5% of Florida’s total population, or 537,500 people. Currently, only seven theatrical companies in the State of Florida offer audio described (AD) performances, and only one of those facilities is located in the Tampa Bay area. Audio described exhibitions and performances bring theatrical, dance, and art experiences to the B/VI community by hiring a trained audio describer to narrate the visual elements of a performance or exhibit, including lights, costumes, actions, textures, and scenery. As part of our larger initiative to build an encompassing audio description program and to highlight Blind Awareness Month in October, we are requesting a $15,000 grant for a national touring group, Blind Visionaries, to perform and a host a workshop at the Center, and to purchase an assistive listening system so that audio description is available for all Center-produced theatrical and dance performances and art exhibitions to the underserved B/VI patrons in the Tampa Bay area over continuous seasons.

Gasparilla Music Foundation

Recycled Tunes, $12,000

The Gasparilla Music Foundation’s Recycled Tunes program takes an innovative approach to address growing funding deficiencies for arts education in Hillsborough County’s primary schools.  GMF uses its annual music festival to promote elementary school music programs and to raise funds for its Recycled Tunes program. Originally, the program collected used instruments to refurbish and donate to underserved music classrooms. The program has grown significantly in the past few years and now provides a broad scope of services and supplies to classrooms. In 2021, the program provided over 700 new and used instruments, equipment, and repairs to 50 schools in Hillsborough County, primarily Title 1 elementary schools.

Gasparilla Music Foundation is requesting $12,000 from the Community Foundation Tampa Bay Competitive Grant for support of its Recycled Tunes Program. Funds will be used to support the Recycled Tunes instrument workshop in Tampa and allow it to purchase instruments, parts, and other equipment to fulfill the growing music related needs in Title 1 classrooms in Hillsborough County.

Museum of Fine Arts of St. Petersburg, Inc.

MFA | Picture of Health: Art for Well-Being,  $23,220

“Picture of Health” at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, is a series of public programs conceived in collaboration with local agencies and mental health providers in accordance with published research into the science-based, positive impact of the arts on health and well-being. In order to address the needs of children, families, and adults across socio-economic and social health spectrums, this project is a multi-phase initiative with a range of community partners, agencies, healthcare organizations and practitioners serving residents throughout and adjacent to the Tampa Bay region. The MFA respectfully requests $23,220 toward the museum’s initiatives, implementation, collateral, supplies and communications related to improving community mental health and well-being through art and the museum’s resources.

Reach Services Inc.

Mobile Grocery Store,  $20,000

We are A 501c3 nonprofit that has operated since 2016 to provide free resources to prevent and alleviate homelessness, low-income, and at-risks situations in Pinellas County. We are seeking $20,000 towards our newest initiative of a mobile grocery store to cover gas costs to operate the bus and assist in increasing our staff capacity to efficiently run the program. Recently the PSTA Board donated a city bus to our organization to transform into a mobile grocery store. They chose our organization because we have the experience in food security, the sustainability to maintain the service, and to help us expand our current outreach operations to reach more people. This outreach program is a grocery store on wheels restoring access to food deserts in Pinellas County and beyond. We have three focuses:

• Direct Access: Providing fresh food to communities underserved by traditional grocery options.
• Food Affordability: Offering donation-based food for those who are experiencing low-income situations.
• Community Awareness: Working to partner with organizations in Pinellas County to bring attention to the resources for those in need.

This program is an extension of our current food services making it easier to get access to food and basic necessities by driving a bus route that comes directly to clients in need. The Mobile Grocery Store will serve anyone who is food insecure and/or located in a food desert in Pinellas County. This includes men, women, and children.

University of South Florida St Petersburg

Growing More Vibrant Communities Through Conversations: A Pilot Project to Reignite the Power of Neighborhood Associations in St. Petersburg, $14,000

TLC will partner with St. Pete neighborhood groups on an innovative community pilot project designed to increase civic participation, commitments to collective action, and neighborhood vibrancy. TLC proposes to partner with the City of St. Petersburg and the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) to 1) train neighborhood volunteer leaders in the World Café methodology as part of its neighborhood leadership development, 2) co-host community World Café listening sessions in participating neighborhoods, 3) conduct community-based sociological research on community vibrancy, 4)prepare a training guide to conversational leadership for use by neighborhood associations and, 5) communicate insights to the public.

We hypothesize that when neighbors attend World Café listening sessions they will become more engaged with one another and with their communities. By meeting, collaborating, and sharing their concerns, dreams, and ideas, residents will become more connected and empowered and their community will be healthier, safer, and more vibrant as a result.

The requested funds will provide stipends for World Café Co-Hosts who design and facilitate the events, a new Project Manager/Communications Specialist, a USFSP Sociology Student Research Assistant, and a Research Manager. Funds will also help defray the basic costs of venue rental and supplies.

Winthrop Arts, Inc.

Winthrop Arts Mobile Art Factory, $15,000

The Winthrop Mobile Art Factory offers free arts instruction to children who live in underserved areas such as Wimauma. The classes are modeled after the programs offered in our arts studio, the Art Factory, located in Riverview. We serve children whose families are migrant and low income and receive services from our partners. Many of these students would not be able to attend art classes outside of school due to issues such as lack of transportation. We resolve this issue by taking the classes to the students. Our current partners include Hispanic Services Council in both Wimauma and Plant City, Achieve Plant City and Beth El Farmworkers’ Ministry in Wimauma.  We are requesting $15,000 (and will gratefully take any amount less). We will use the funds to pay the instructor to travel to Wimauma two times per week and provide instruction at Hispanic Services Council and Beth El Farmworkers’ Ministry. Funds will also pay for mileage and art supplies. We recently added Beth El Farmworkers’ Ministry in August 2021 and would like to be able to provide an instructor weekly. Currently, we have funding to go to Hispanic Services Council in each location three times per month. We currently travel to Achieve Plant City and Beth El Farmworkers’ Ministry just one time per month each. The need for arts instruction in Wimauma is high. We would like to increase the program to four times a month at Beth El Farmworkers’ Ministry and Hispanic Services Council.

IDEAS For Us

Tampa Bay Ecological Shoreline Restoration Projects, $6,000

Water quality issues are a rising threat throughout the Tampa Bay area with many instances of pollution, habitat loss, saltwater intrusion, and more. To combat this crisis, we are hosting a series of ecological shoreline restoration projects in 2022. We are requesting $6,000 to carry out two shoreline restoration projects in the areas of St. Pete Beach and Ulele Springs. The St. Pete Beach event will be a dune restoration project, working with Keep Pinellas Beautiful, to plant 500 Sea Oats and 50 Sea Grapes throughout the inner coastline of the beaches. The Ulele Springs event will be in partnership with Ecosphere to plant hundreds of Sea Grasses and to clean up the surrounding area of debris.

These events will be carried out in spring and summer of 2022 with two months of monitoring following each installation. The implementation of these restoration projects will be open to the public so the community can be involved in hands-on climate action while learning about coastal ecology. The population served will consist of locals of all ages and backgrounds in the area. The funds will be used for tools, soil, and Florida native plants. The implications of these restoration initiatives greatly impact the wellbeing of the local community, the economic value of the area, and the ecological health of Tampa Bay.

Audubon Florida

Invasive Vegetation Removal Project & Maintaining South Hillsborough Bay Bird Sanctuaries, $25,000

Audubon Florida’s Coastal Islands Sanctuaries (FCIS), based in Tampa, is seeking a grant for our work in the South Hillsborough Bay bird sanctuaries, as well as continuing our invasive vegetation removal project within the sanctuaries. Audubon Florida manages three island sanctuaries in Hillsborough Bay south of the Alafia River: Green Key, Whiskey Stump Key, and the Richard T. Paul Alafia Bank Bird Sanctuary Critical Wildlife Area, which is owned and managed in collaboration with the Mosaic Company and Port Tampa Bay. 

The Alafia Bank is one of the most important bird nesting islands in Florida with annual counts consisting of 14 species totaling up to 10,000 pairs. In 2020-21, we restored over 20 acres on the three islands by clearing and treating invasive vegetation and planting more than 1,200 native plants. Currently in the restoration portion of this project, funding from CFTB will go towards re-treatment of invasive species that regrow and out-compete the native plants before they can become established. This project will promote the health of the Hillsborough Bay ecosystem and serve the entire Tampa Bay community by providing high quality nesting habitat that many of the region’s iconic birds rely on. Audubon is requesting funding for the invasive vegetation removal, a part of on-going restoration efforts on the islands ($25,000).

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary

For the Birds ! Enhancing Wildlife Educational Experiences for Students and Residents of Tampa Bay, $12,000

The overall purpose of this project is to enhance the educational experience for visitors to the SSS and improve educational outreach activities. Support of the activities proposed here from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay will have a significant impact on the community, given that the SSS is the largest bird rescue and rehab center from Sarasota to the panhandle of Florida. 

One of the main goals of the SSS is to educate the community about wild birds and the dangers that they face. The Sanctuary uses a number of pedagogical tools to accomplish this goal.  Specifically, we will establish a tour that will include an interactive experience at each of the bird enclosures at the Sanctuary and in the Educational Center. In addition, we propose to build an amphitheater outside the Bald Eagle aviary to facilitate educational presentations.  Finally, we propose to update the Educational Center at the Sanctuary. One of our primary goals with the updates will be to increase public environmental awareness on how coastal birds, fish, and plants are being affected by humans and how we can be responsible citizens in this important and sensitive ecosystem. 

Funds will be used to: 1.purchase materials for the interactive tour 2.build the new amphitheater 3.purchase saltwater tanks and signage for the Educational Center.

Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay

Junior Achievement’s Environmental Learning Experiences, $20,000

Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay (JATB) is requesting funding to be distributed at $20,000 a year for 5 years to create JA’s Environmental Learning Experiences that will cultivate an environmental mindset in students in order to increase their understanding of the importance of protecting, restoring and improving the natural environment. This awareness will be achieved by integrating environmental and sustainability issues into JATB’s experimental learning experiences at JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. At JA BizTown, every 5th grader has a job to do in one of the numerous businesses. If funded, an environmental center would be created where students learn how their decisions and actions can change the environment.  Students in the environment center would manage the recycling program for JA BizTown, educate its citizens on how plants replenish land, water and air by planting plants, the impact it has on maintaining the ecosystem and how environmental conservation in our community affects us all and our well-being. As students’ progress into 8th grade and attend in JA Finance Park, they will have an opportunity to explore the high demand careers in the environmental sciences through a digital career app that matches skills with interests.

Academy Prep Foundation, Inc.

Graduate Support Services, $25,000

Recognizing that the majority of students at Academy Prep will be first generation college students and all are low-income, we developed Graduate Support Services (GSS) to ensure that our students have the support and resources they need to overcome any challenges and obstacles that may prevent them from not only enrolling in college, but graduating. For at least 8 years after graduation, GSS helps Academy Prep graduates navigate the high school and college financial aid and admissions processes and engages students in college focused activities while offering a variety of academic prep services. GSS also assists in covering the costs of ancillary items needed for graduates to continue their education. Students gain social and emotional support through long term relationships with program staff. The goal of GSS is to provide graduates a smooth and successful transition into high school and post-secondary education so they are in the position to support themselves and their families, and help change their communities.  The program has proven successful with 98% of graduates graduating high school on time and 82% enrolling in college. Academy Prep is currently serving 718 alumni and 136 7th and 8th grade students preparing for high school. A $25,000 grant will be used for direct service GSS staff salaries and ancillary items needed for alumni including textbooks, technology, summer programming, fees for registration and testing, tutoring, school visits and more.

AMIkids Tampa

AMIkids Tampa Culinary Training Program, $40,000

The AMIkids Tampa Culinary Training Program will provide vocational services to young adults ages 16- 24. We are requesting $40,000 which will be used to expand our current vocational services at AMIkids Tampa and add new food service certifications and culinary skill-building as part of our vocational training tracks.

AMIkids Tampa provides a comprehensive integrated vocational training program for at-risk young adults that is individualized to each participant’s needs. This program combines specific vocational skills training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly skilled careers. Our youth benefit from the program by receiving a skills-based education combined with individually tailored case management that prepares them for good paying jobs. AMIkids transitions participants into relevant and rigorous programs with hands-on experience while increasing interest in careers that are related to post-secondary programs and require further education. AMIkids has been successful in developing a workforce with a quicker turnaround for local business and industry needs which encourages economic development and new business through a better trained workforce. 

We are now seeking to expand our vocational services program to include culinary skills training, industry-recognized food safety certifications, and job placement in the food service industry. Funds awarded from this grant will go towards program supplies, instructional materials, and students’ needs.

Beth-El Farmworker Ministry, Inc.

Step Up for Success – Pre-College Experience, $14,600

We request $14,600 for the Step Up for Success Pre-College experience which provides students of farm working families the opportunities to explore possible post-secondary academic and professional pathways. This project targets students in grades 9th-11th who demonstrate interest in academic achievement and professional development.  The program is designed with four components: mentoring, leadership development and career training, networking through civic engagement and service, and celebration.  Each scholar works closely with a mentor who helps them navigate through the process of setting goals and planning the steps to achieve them. Step Up also provides an expanded network of peer support, where scholars can journey together while setting and working through achieving their personal, academic, and professional goals and also supporting each other through hardship and challenges.  This program provides leadership opportunities to scholars through leadership summer camp experiences, classes on financial literacy, civic engagement, life skills, among others.  Scholars are encouraged to volunteer and provide service hours serve their community.  Along the journey scholars are provided spaces to celebrate milestones and achievement, highlighting the importance in stopping to reflect, assess, and celebrate their work.

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties

Expanding Access to Affordable Homeownerships, $25,000

At Habitat, we provide 0% interest, 30-year fixed rate mortgages to hard-working families. Eliminating, interest payments helps in keeping mortgage payments affordable and provides a permanent housing solution of affordable homeownership. Many may not know this, yet at Habitat we both originate all our loans in-house as well as service all of our mortgages. Currently, our program application process is running on an outdated system that lacks online integration and involves significant amounts of manual processes. Specifically, our pre-application process is almost exclusively done manually and can take up to 30 days for formal review. The lack of online access limits our applicant pool as applicants cannot submit application items electronically which causes them to physically submit items. This lack of functionality and automation increases delays and errors, thus reducing access to affordable housing. This is especially true for those with limited transportation or other barriers to access. It is critical to streamline and automate this system. We are requesting $25,000 to support the implementation of a custom and innovative software solution that will transform the homeowner application process, significantly reducing wait times and bringing it into the 21st century. Creating a bespoke system, catering to our homeowner’s needs will greatly enhance the experience of our homeowner candidates, increase access to credit and will increase chances of program success.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Combating Elderly Fraud and Exploitation in Hillsborough County, $10,000

This project, Combating Elderly Fraud and Exploitation in Hillsborough County, aims to raise awareness, educate, and empower the elderly community of Sun City Center, Florida against elderly fraud and exploitation through the use of educational materials, advertisements, and community engagement.  According to the 2020 US Census, the target population of Sun City Center is home to approximately 31,000 residents with the average resident age of 73.  Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is requesting a grant amount of $10,000.00 which will be specifically used on varying advertisement types and law enforcement personnel training to attain best practices and in turn deliver quality service to the elderly community it serves.  The impact of this project has potential to go beyond the target populations due to its use of advertisement and collaborations with community partners.

Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay

Supporting Equitable Education through Junior Achievements 3DE High School, $25,000

Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay in partnership with Pinellas County schools looks to add a third 3DE High School in Pinellas County. Designed to strengthen and enrich the lives of our neighbors and the communities where we live and work the 3DE model is the solutions provider addressing structural inequities in education, expanding economic mobility for all. 3DE re-engineers high school to be more relevant, experiential and connected to the complexities of the real world  to expand economic opportunity for all students.  Through case methodology and the joint venture partnerships with the broader business community, 3DE increases student engagement and relevant connectivity through project based application. The model taps into students innate desire to learn by creating communities of engaged and aspirational teens who are empowered with the skills to drive toward economic opportunity. A $25,000 investment in 3DE would be an investment to support the launch of the 3DE model at Gibbs high school in St. Petersburg Florida in 2022-2023. Located in one of the most economically challenged neighborhoods, Gibbs represents one of the most diverse student cohorts in Pinellas County, with a 61% Black population and 69% of the students identifying as economically disadvantaged. The Community Foundations investment would support the relevant content, teacher development, local partnership development, experiential learning and systems improvement that the 3DE model brings.

LiFT Inc, (Learning Independence For Tomorrow)

The LiFT Microbusiness Expansion, $10,000

Learning Independence For Tomorrow, Inc. (LiFT) requests $10,000 to complete funding for the expansion of The LiFT Microbusiness Expansion, a program providing exceptional and equal opportunities in employment and hands-on job training for neurodiverse adult students. The LiFT University Transition Program (ages 18-22) and Day Program (ages 23+) serve students with varying disabilities (autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, dyslexia, OCD, processing disorders, developmental delays). LiFT created its Microbusiness Program to provide students with real world vocational experiences with the support of LiFT job coaches in a controlled environment tailored for individual success. Microbusinesses are revenue-producing, student-run and include: LiFT U Cleaning Crew (providing weekly commercial cleaning services to local businesses), LiFT Your Heart (creation and sale of high-quality personalized bags, handmade candles and bath products, and gifts sold at local markets and retail stores; while developing social skills in selling to customers), and LiFT Your Fork (full-service catering company where students create custom menus, prepare food, and serve it with professionalism at events to hundreds of guests). The Microbusinesses have experienced tremendous growth and require new equipment, marketing materials and supplies so students may continue to run them effectively, meet demand, fine-tune skills, accept new job opportunities, and increase their capacity to work and live independently.

MacDonald Training Center

Career Readiness Training for Neurodiverse Adults, $15,000

MTC respectfully requests a grant in the amount of $15,000 to support Career Readiness Training for Neurodiverse Adults offered in its eMerge Career Collaborative (eMerge). The goal of the eMerge program is to surmount barriers to employment for people with disabilities, preparing these job seekers for career success. 

eMerge offers transformational, certificate-based job training aligned with employment opportunities in four high-growth sectors of the economy: technology, manufacturing, and healthcare and hospitality. Each track leads to an industry-standard certification, such as Certified Logistics Associate or Microsoft Office Specialist, which demonstrates to a future employer that the eMerge student has the content knowledge, hands-on technical training,  and personal and professional skills required for employment and career advancement.

In a unique option for individuals on the autism spectrum, students in the Tech2Work track first complete eMerge digital literacy courses, then matriculate to the automation technology course at The Learning Academy at the University of South Florida to prepare for high-paying tech careers in the growing field of automation. This “bundled approach” combines two college-level courses in one program at two locations and affords students all the experiences of a large public university campus community. Grant funds will be used to support staff salaries, student transportation vouchers and outreach and recruitment efforts.

Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation, Inc.

Pasco-Hernando State College – Inspiring Brighter Futures for Underpriviledged Youth Through Pre-Collegiate Mentoring and College Readiness, $10,000

Imagine you dropped out of high school or just scraped by, and college wasn’t an option for you. You decide to just work more hours at your part-time, minimum-wage job instead. Full-time hours seem like a lot of money when you’re 16, but ten years later, you’re still earning the same income, but living on your own or even trying to support a family. In an economy where low-wage jobs are plentiful, fewer high school graduates attend college and instead take jobs with limited advancement.

The PHSC Pre-Collegiate Academic and Cultural Academy is a mentoring program for economically disadvantaged youth in grades 6-12, which encompasses curriculum from the College Reach Out Program (CROP), Centers of Excellence (COE), and National Achiever’s Society (NAS). These initiatives aim to motivate and inspire underserved students annually to graduate high school, attend college, and secure meaningful and sustainable careers. The program operates year-round, coinciding with the school year. PHSC is requesting $10,000 to support these efforts.

Through this funding, approximately 75 underrepresented students will engage in enriching academic and cultural programs with a goal of promoting academic excellence, community-centered work ethic, and reducing negative peer pressure associated with academic achievement. By building a community of support and helping young people believe that they can achieve, we take students who are expected to drop out of school and mentor them through college to career.

Virtual Enterprises International

Educating for the Social, Emotional and Economic Well-Being of Today’s Tampa Bay Area Students and Tomorrow’s Workforce, $10,000

Area secondary schools to provide career exploration and career development programs to economically-disadvantaged students. Our programs bring together business education, financial literacy and technological literacy by transforming classrooms into offices and students into professionals charged with running start-up companies that simulate the functions and demands of real-world businesses in a global economy of over 7000 student-run businesses. This enables students to learn business by doing business and to test drive potential careers. They also gain a range of competencies that are strongly linked to educational, economic, and professional success. 

We are currently working in eight secondary schools that serve over 580 students in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Hernando counties. Hernando is excited to expand our offerings to more of their students as a result of district efforts to offer career pathways as part of its educational programming, as well as aligning with the state DOE focus on entrepreneurship. VEI has a sustainable, scalable model and is requesting financial support in the amount of $15,000. By intensifying our efforts in Hernando County, more economically-disadvantaged students can earn industry-recognized certifications (e.g., Entrepreneurship Small Business, Intuit Design for Delight, Intuit Quickbooks) and develop foundational career readiness skills.

ALPHA House of Pinellas County

ALPHA House’s Critical Services and Residential Maternity Housing for Homeless and At-Risk Teen Girls and Women, $20,000

ALPHA House (AH) respectfully requests $20,000 in support of its’ critical services and housing program for pregnant teens and women who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or are at risk of becoming homeless. Combined with foster care income from the state,  corporate and foundation grants, and individual donors, these funds will help cover the costs associated with sheltering a mom and her baby ($150.75/night/family).

For 40 years AH has been the only residential maternity program in Pinellas County providing shelter and direct services to pregnant women and teens experiencing homelessness, new mothers with infants, and families experiencing crisis pregnancies. AH has provided housing, trauma-informed therapeutic supportive services, and unconditional love to more than 3,000 unduplicated women, teens, and infants. Last year, 94% of those who graduated from our housing programs successfully transitioned into permanent housing/independent living. 

AH transforms lives by providing a full continuum of services to meet the physical, emotional, educational, vocational, and spiritual well-being of women between the ages of 14–41. This includes accessible and inclusive emergency housing, case management predicated on increasing women’s’ sense of agency, trauma-informed counseling, immediate access to physical and mental health services, survivor-based housing programs, effective education, and job-based services, and wellness/life/parenting skills activities.

CASA – Community Action Stops Abuse, Inc.

CASA Family Justice Center, $45,000

This request is for $45,000 to plan for and implement the CASA Family Justice Center (FJC) that will serve Pinellas County and to support the mission to benefit survivors of domestic violence, community resource partners, and the local community.  The Family Justice Center will co-locate community professionals to provide the services needed by victims of domestic violence, such as law enforcement, attorneys, specially trained advocates, child welfare workers, mental health professionals, and more.  As a result, it is anticipated that there will be less under-reporting of domestic violence, more comprehensive batterer accountability in the court system, more immediate and effective wrap-around services provided to victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, child abuse, and human trafficking.  This model is recognized as a best practice by the U.S. Department of Justice, and once opened, the CASA Family Justice Center will be the only one in the state of Florida. 

If awarded, money associated with this request will most likely supplement operations and probably provide match for federal contracts.  Although CASA has a good track record of proven financial success, this venture is new and all the implications are unknown.  We do know that we will be operating from 2 buildings instead of one, which will naturally increase our operating expense, such as personnel, utilities, maintenance, phone and internet, insurance, etc.

Enterprising Latinas, Inc.

Project 2025: Preparing Women for the Workforce & Self-Sufficiency, $50,000

Enterprising Latinas (ELI) will implement Project 2025: Preparing Women for the Workforce & Self-Sufficiency to increase the economic prosperity of 100 low- to moderate-income women residing in the South Hillsborough County communities of Wimauma, Ruskin, Riverview and Gibsonton, particularly Black & Latina women who face multiple barriers to economic prosperity and wealth building. Over 12 months, the project will drive the workforce development and employment support services received by members by offering workforce trainings and basic skills courses that lead to higher wage employment or self-employment. In addition, ELI will expand job coaching and job placement supports using new tools and partnerships that help members navigate an economy in flux due to the pandemic. Workforce trainings and employment services will be integrated into and complemented by the individualized Economic Mobility Mentoring (EMM) process for each member. EMM is ELI’s comprehensive approach to support women shift their self-concept, develop self-efficacy skills, and build essential behaviors and decisions that lead to self-sufficiency. After a successful first program year under CFTB’s Economic Mobility priority, we are requesting $50,000 through the Women and Girls priority to promote economic opportunity for women and cover partial costs of coordination & services, training partner fees, program supplies, recognition activities, and overhead expenses. Other sources contribute $193,995.

Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay

Program Expansion Initiative, $10,000

Girls on the Run uses running and other physical activities as a platform for teaching life skills that drive transformative and lasting change in the lives of girls. The Program Expansion Initiative will ensure that girls who would not typically have access to quality youth programming have the opportunity to participate in Girls on the Run (3rd to 5th graders) or Heart & Sole (6th to 8th graders). Each 10-week curriculum includes lessons that specifically target helping girls improve in Competence, Confidence, Caring, Character, Connection, and Contribution. Girls learn critical life skills such as how to manage emotions, help others, make intentional decisions, and resolve conflict that they use at home, at school, and with friends. As a result of participating, girls are empowered to be the leader of their lives and to make positive contributions in their own lives and the lives of others.

Girls on the Run is requesting $10,000 in grant support for our Program Expansion Initiative. This initiative will expand GOTR to at least 10 low-income Title 1 schools within Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties to ensure that at-risk girls will have the opportunity to participate in the life-changing GOTR program during our 2022 Fall and 2023 Spring Seasons. These schools are on our Wait List, and are eager to get started. With grant support, these girls who so desperately need our program will be able to participate.

Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services

Reimagine the Future: Scaling Up Teen-Mother Education and Engagement, $14,555

Gulf Coast JFCS’ Woman-to-Woman (W2W) program equips in-school teen mothers and pregnant girls, who are at high risk for academic failure and repeat pregnancies, to pursue a better and healthy future. W2W provides structured mentorship, enrichment activities, parent skills education, vocational support, and individualized case management/home visit services for 100 low-income teen girls, ages 14 to 19, in Hillsborough County. Participant goals include:

• Staying in school or pursuing a GED;
• Demonstrating support and skills for healthy child development; and
• Delaying repeat births while participating in the program.

It’s important to note that participation in W2W is voluntary, and program success relies heavily upon creatively engaging teens. Our monthly workshops and small group sessions engage teens in topics, such as:

• Sexual Health & Repeat-Pregnancy Prevention
• Child Safety
• Career Exploration, Housing Resources, and Financial Literacy
• Domestic Violence
• Child Attachment and Bonding
• Music & Development with Babies
• I’m Me (Improving My Mental Esteem)

The requested $14,555 will address funding gaps, promote teen participation, and strengthen our ability to pivot as we navigate through the Covid pandemic. The funds will:

• Pay workshop presenter fees;
• Replace obsolete laptop computers;
• Cover the cost of workshop materials, small group meetings, and positive reinforcement events.

Mary & Martha House, Inc.

Mary & Martha House 4 Hope – Shelter Support Success, $50,000

Mary & Martha House (MMH) respectfully requests $50,000 to fund the the Mary & Martha House 4 Hope – Shelter, Support, Success Program, a specific and detailed program that provides support services to women and their children to help them re-invent their lives, re-direct their ambitions, and re-create their families in a safe and thriving environment through personalized social services and shelter. Located in Ruskin, Florida MMH has provided shelter and supportive services to women and children in need for 40 years. MMH Case Management work one-on-one with each family to develop individualized case plans tailored to their specific needs. Families are provided with support services that include; employment readiness, financial literacy, credit repair/building, life-skills, parenting classes, individual and family counseling, and tutoring. They are also provided assistance with childcare, registration fees, rental deposit/assistance, transportation, and other services. These services empower the women and families to make positive economic, personal, and financial decisions to live positive and productive lives. Wrap around services are also provided for up to one year to ensure complete self-sufficiency after exiting MMH shelter. The goal of this program is to empower survivors of domestic violence and homeless women by providing the tools necessary to establish economic self-sufficiency, short term goal setting, and long-term planning for their future.

PACE Center for Girls – Citrus County

Pace Works at Citrus, $10,000

Pace Works at Citrus will be an additional key component of the Spirited Girls class, which all girls at Pace attend. Pace Works at Citrus will provide three major components, all of which require strong partnering with local business leaders and organizations for activities both at the Pace Center and in the community. The first, Essential Skills Programming, helps girls develop soft skills and life skills as well as assesses goals to monitor interests and strengths in career, educational and vocational development. The second area, Employment Readiness and Planning, features quarterly field trips to shadow businesses, presentations of skill-based development workshops in the Center, job search skills, and a career day highlighting local businesses and job/career opportunities. The third component, Post-Secondary Exploration for College or Vocational Education, includes additional assessment for careers, tours of higher education facilities, attending college fairs, and financial aid information and support.

All girls attending Pace Citrus will experience Pace Works at Citrus. Girl are ages 11 – 18, have experienced trauma and often have challenges in successfully navigating school and life. Pace Works at Citrus will give them extra support in planning their success based on their academic and personal goals. The funds will be used for a small portion for the teacher, field trips, printed and electronic support materials and any assessments.

St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Inc.

Baldwin Women’s Residence – Empowering Women and Changing Lives, $10,000

Name of Project: Virginia & David Baldwin Women’s Residence (BWR). SPFC requests $20,000 to support women in recovery who are experiencing homelessness. BWR provides safe transitional housing for women who are homeless and recovering from substance use. Women gain stability in their recovery while obtaining and maintaining employment, saving money, and rebuilding relationships. At any given time, 85% of residents are employed, and all are working toward achieving three months of savings. One of the unique aspects of our program is that there is no limit on the length of stay. Some residents are ready to move out within a few months, others are ready to move out in a year. We are willing to take the necessary time to ensure someone is truly prepared to re-enter the “real world” successfully. We also provide after-care check-ups. We check in with clients at one week, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, six months, and one year after they move out, offering assistance and helping resolve problems. Women are referred from other community services and the justice system. Each woman comes to BWR making a commitment to themselves and to repairing and rebuilding broken relationships. Each woman commits to building life skills and habits to ensure long-term stability. Funds will be used to support house operations, including three full-time case managers, a full-time housing specialist, a house manager, healthy meal preparation, an intake specialist, and mental health services.

Boley Centers, Inc.

Boley on Broadway, $10,000

Boley on Broadway is a new initiative to provide therapeutic theater to the people served by Boley Centers:  People with severe and persistent mental illness.  In partnership with Destination Theatre, Boley Centers is providing a creative outlet for our clients intended to increase socialization, increase self-esteem, nurture resiliency, provide an outlet to express feelings, increase self-control and increase their well-being.  The project will consist of three workshops throughout the year, forming a “theater club for any interested clients.  This will culminate into the development of a production with daily rehearsals and the performance of a show in a theater.  We have tentatively reserved the Catherine A. Hickman Theater in Gulfport for our initial production.

Boley is requesting $10,000 from the foundation for start-up funds for this project.  These funds will allow us to attract matching funds from donors.  We currently have two private supporters who have committed to fund raising for the remaining $20,000 needed  for the project.  The $10,000 will be used for production expenses such as space rental, set costs, technical equipment rental and costumes.

Champions for Children, Inc.

Kids on the Block – South Shore Schools, $10,000

CFC requests a renewal grant of $10,000 to continue bringing our Kids on the Block (KOTB) program to elementary schools in the South Shore area of Hillsborough County.

KOTB is a troupe of educational puppets that provide children with knowledge to recognize and report abuse and other mistreatment, and to seek help, thus destigmatizing victimhood and preventing traumas with lifelong impacts on mental well-being. We proudly offer the option to present shows and answer questions in Spanish. 

In the Child Abuse Prevention show, our trained puppeteers teach Kindergarten and 3rd grade audiences how to safely recognize and report child abuse and neglect when it happens to them or a friend. Listening to the puppet characters’ age-appropriate stories, students learn abuse is never their fault and to use the NO, GO and TELL safety message.

For 4th Graders, KOTB presents the Bullying & Stereotyping Prevention show to create an awareness of what constitutes bullying and encourage empathy for victims. Respect of physical, developmental, and cultural differences is also addressed. Students learn to “Recognize, Refuse, and Report” bullying to promote school safety.

Due to ongoing COVID precautions in schools, we will for now continue delivering shows in our highly effective interactive virtual format. We project reaching 18,000 kids countywide this year and 1,800 in South Shore. More details on how District policies may temporarily impact our program are shared throughout this proposal.

Children’s Home Society of Florida – Suncoast Tampa Bay Area

Infant Mental Health Expansion, $14,805

The Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS), Suncoast Region, is seeking $14,805 to support an Infant Mental Health Expansion project. Funding will support training and essential supplies for three clinical counselors to become certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Infant Massage techniques to better meet the needs of families with young children. Infant massage will be taught to parents of infants between the ages of birth and one year, and PCIT will be utilized with parents of children between the ages of two and seven years. 

PCIT is an evidence-based, short-term treatment designed to help young children with highly disruptive behavior learn to control their frustration.  The model is designed to coach parents/caregivers in skills such as child-centered play, communication, increasing child compliance, and problem-solving and can be delivered virtually or in-person.  Additionally, counselors will also be trained in infant massage which improves bonding with the child and helps the parent deal with the infants irritability, among other benefits. 

The required PCIT training takes approximately one-year for the Counselor to complete. The program expects to begin treatment with 12 families during the training year with 45 to 60 families served in future years. Infant massage will be provided to 15 parents of infants during the year, and will be expanded to serve 30 parents annually in future years.

Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay Inc

Helping Children Dream Big: Positive Education Supported by Professional Mentors, $40,000

All children have unique talents and big dreams. Friends of the Children—Tampa Bay (Friends Tampa Bay) focuses exclusively on youth who experience major obstacles that get in the way of those dreams, helping them reach their full potential. Helping Children Thrive: Promoting Positive Mental Well-Being Through Professional Mentorship will use the $40,000 to support full-time, professional mentors

(Friends) to provide relationship-based, trauma-informed support to help youth improve their mental and emotional well-being.

All youth in our program are resilient but have already faced multiple challenges by the time they enter kindergarten: poverty, caregivers who are incarcerated or deal with substance abuse, and more. All of our youth have been in or are at high risk of entering foster care. These adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) mean that our youth struggle with issues like loneliness, anger, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and behavior challenges. 

Beginning in kindergarten and continuing through high school, Friends spend 12-16 hours per month with youth, helping them and their families build social-emotional skills and resilience, access needed services, and promote self-advocacy within the complex mental health system. Friends work with youth in schools, homes, and communities, developing deep and trusting relationships. This model has been shown to improve the wellbeing of youth living with intersecting pressures of poverty, trauma, and race.

Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas

Supportive Counseling Services, $25,000

The Coalition is experiencing an increased need in supportive counseling for pregnant and new mothers and their babies who are uninsured, score high on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and need help covering the cost of mental health counseling. Many new mothers and moms-to-be are reporting increased stress and anxiety. The EPDS is used for screening women during and after pregnancy to identify women at risk for “perinatal” depression.  This Scale coupled with the Coalition’s Mothers and Babies Program curriculum (MBPC) in supportive counseling sessions to help women’s mental health and wellbeing. 

Metropolitan Ministries

Resiliency Center, $20,000

The Resiliency Center provides trauma-responsive, evidence-based mental health services to people who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless in Hillsborough County. After providing counseling to families in our emergency shelter for 15 years, Metropolitan Ministries (MM) developed the Resiliency Center in 2021 to address the growing mental health crisis and expand the availability of therapeutic services to underserved community members. 

Counseling is provided to individuals, couples, families, and children in individual and group settings in person or via telehealth. A variety of proven therapeutic approaches are used based on each person’s needs. Participants are enrolled in case management and connected to community resources to increase social supports and overall financial stability. During the grant period, 300 people will be provided with counseling services. The outcome is for 70% of participants who attend 6 or more sessions to demonstrate a reduction in trauma symptoms and perceived stress.

MM’s grant request of $20,000 will fund 50% of our Trauma and Recovery Counselor position. Due to the significant impact of poverty and homelessness on health, those we serve face high rates of trauma and mental illness. Additionally, they often face barriers to accessing quality healthcare, which have only increased since the pandemic began. An investment in the Resiliency Center will ensure counseling services are available and accessible to this population.

NAMI Citrus Inc.

NAMI Citrus Educate 22-23, $12,000

The NAMI Citrus Educate 22-23 Plan is requesting $12,000 which will allow us to present information and education to the public about what mental illness is, how to recognize when someone might be in a mental health crisis or situation, and how to have a conversation about mental health.  

This plan focuses on the community, particularly those who may not have a mental health condition or are unwilling to recognize it in themselves and others. It will address  businesses, the general public, civic clubs and churches through our ‘In Our Own Voice’ presentation. It will address our youth by educating their parents and staff at afterschool and summer programs.

The addition of these proposed educational pieces will assist our residents in identifying and seeking treatment for mental illnesses. Applying that knowledge should help to reduce the rate of hospitalizations, incarcerations and homelessness in our county. According to February 2021 NAMI statistics, there are approximately 27,500 homeless people in Florida and 1 in 6 live with a serious mental illness. Serious mental illnesses require treatment.  Additionally, the statistics report that arrests of people with a serious mental illness result in more than 2 million jail bookings a year, and that 7 in 10 youths in the juvenile justice system have a mental health condition.

The grant money will be used to coordinate, market and implement evidence-based educational presentations.

Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation, Inc.

M.A.S.T.R. Kids – Mental Health and Wellbeing Project, $16,000

$16,000 will fund the M.A.S.T.R. Kids – Mental Health & Wellbeing Project to provide mental health services primarily through weekly group therapy sessions for youth. M.A.S.T.R. Kids is an out-of-school time (after-school and summer) program delivered across two sites for youth in grades K-8. Our clients come to us from the largest African American community in all of Pinellas County (south St. Petersburg) & from families that have faced generations of inequity & who experience some form of trauma/crisis every day. COVID-19, recent events depicting violence & social injustice on screens daily, & the 2021 surge of homicides in the city (largely in this community) represent added trauma for our children/families resulting in increased anxiety, worry, anger, & sadness. To accomplish our mission of helping to close the achievement gap for youth, we acknowledge that academic success is HIGHLY dependent upon mental health. The goal of this proposal is to re-start culturally inclusive mental health therapy in our summer session, providing an outlet to discuss & positively direct student emotions, thereby improving the mental health of youth. We will also add up to six individual and/or family sessions per site as requested by the therapist. In so doing, we will better support students’ social-emotional development & address concerning behavioral challenges emerging as a result of increased stressors.

St. Petersburg Arts Alliance

Murals in Mind, $25,000

The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance (SPAA) is leading the effort to create a new model program that uses the arts as a tool to create awareness and provide support for those who struggle with mental health issues. Entitled Murals in Mind, the program will create 12 free, QR code accessible public art experiences, which can be used as a support tool to help address mental health concerns as well as help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. While the complete Murals in Mind program has three phases, SPAA is requesting $25,000 for Phase One, which includes:

• Developing an ad hoc advisory council made up of mental health professionals to help guide decision making and provide best practices
• Creating public and accessible art inspired by St. Pete murals that can be easily accessed with QR code technology. This includes adding performing arts components to help expand the experience for users.
• Creating awareness and teaching the public to reach for art as a powerful healing tool

Murals in Mind will serve those who struggle with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse. SPAA will target specific populations including but not limited to veterans, students, healthcare workers, senior citizens, and second chancers (recovering addicts, formerly incarcerated). Funds will support a marketing campaign to build awareness about the Murals in Mind program as well as pay for artists, video and audio production, and QR code technology.

Tampa Bay Thrives, Inc.

Let’s Talk: Behavioral Health Navigation & Support Line, $50,000

Tampa Bay Thrives (TBT) was founded in 2019 by a diverse group of local leaders in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk counties who work in industries and communities greatly affected by mental health and substance use disorders. They aimed to improve the lives of friends, families, neighbors, and co-workers who are seeking help. TBT launched its first pilot project, Let’s Talk, during the summer of 2021.

Let’s Talk is a free, confidential, 24/7 behavioral health support and navigation line, connecting callers to trained counselors who can provide emotional support, information, and referrals to help people begin their journey to better mental health. Let’s Talk is open to all residents of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties, ages 13 and older. TBT respectfully requests $50,000 to support the operations of Let’s Talk.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay

Reading Enrichment, $25,000

The Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay is requesting a grant of $25,000 to develop an innovative new program, Reading Enrichment, at its Wimauma Club. This club is located in an impoverished community, plagued by extreme poverty, a transient population and low academic performance. This program is a new partnership with the Hillsborough Community College Educator Preparation Institute (HCC EPI), a fast-track program for students who already have a bachelor’s degree, and is designed to address the serious teacher shortage in the Tampa Bay area. Under the guidance of HCC faculty, students will complete an onsite practicum at the Wimauma Boys and Girls Cub, required for the Florida Teacher Certification program. HCC Students will provide literacy support, utilizing a creative approach designed to improve literacy skills and foster critical thinking. This new program will be a model that can be replicated at other clubs. Funds requested will be used for program materials, preparation time, student oversight, stipends, evaluation, a showcase to celebrate student’s accomplishments and overall program management/supervision. 

The Reading Enrichment Program will be offered three times a week and will include a range of topics, explored through various reading materials (books, magazines, newspapers) reaching 80 youth.

Frameworks of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Frameworks’ SEL-ect School Model, $40,000

Frameworks respectfully requests funding ($40,000) to continue social and emotional competency skills programming for its “SEL-ect School model” at two elementary schools (West Tampa and Potter), identified in collaboration with Hillsborough County Public Schools and using Frameworks’ school-readiness assessment to determine eligibility and assure quality program implementation and fidelity.

The proposed program would serve an estimated 900 students, as well as their teachers, school administrators, and families. An average of 95% of the students attending these schools are economically disadvantaged.

In 2021, Frameworks was awarded the Lightning Foundation Community Hero funding to implement its SEL-ect school model at West Tampa and Potter Elementary for year 1. Support from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay will continue programming at the inaugural schools. Funding will be used to implement continuation of our SEL-ect model offering a full spectrum of services including a SEL programming readiness assessment, professional development, explicit SEL curriculum, research-based resources, coaching, family resources, data analysis and sustainability steps.  In an effort to maximize funding opportunities, Frameworks is willing to work with the Foundation in determining the best allocation or separate funding depending on the availability of funds.

Gentlemen’s Quest of Tampa Inc.

Life Class and STEMQuest Summer Program, $20,000

We are requesting $20,000 for our Life Class and STEMQuest summer camp program. Our Life Class is offered to minority teenage at-risk male students after school on a weekly basis and these same students participate in our summer program exploring STEM careers. By attending our Life Class, students are given the tools they need to build their intellectual, emotional, and relational capacity and construct an identity based on respect, accountability, and responsibility so they can embark on the path to manhood unfettered. Through partnerships with other organizations, the students learn from mentors, their peers, and themselves. The students engage in structured activities that result in enhanced relationships and a strong support system, increased school performance, strengthened family connections, and breaking down perceived barriers to attend college. Students who attend a Title 1 school in Hillsborough County are given priority for receiving FREE services from the Gentlemen’s Quest of Tampa Inc., however, no student is turned away.  All students who endeavor to receive assistance to help turn them in the right direction receive resources from our program. Students are admitted to the program after receiving a referral from their guidance counselor, social worker, or the court system. Once a student is admitted into the program, he is assigned a Success Coach to identify goals and create an action plan to target success. Funds will be used to enhance our program.

Parents and Children Advance Together (PCAT) Literacy Ministries, Inc.

PCAT Positive Education Enhancement, $16,405

PCAT provides after-school educational programming to a total of 66 children in both Kindergarten and first grade attending Ruskin Elementary. During the past school year PCAT greatly increased its use of the positive education approach with our students, including providing training sessions to staff and parents. $16,405 is requested for PCAT Positive Education Enhancement, which will allow us to continue and expand the awareness of this approach during the next school year, and to engage community members and volunteers.

PCAT proposes to hold a workshop in the fall of 2022 that will engage business and community leaders in South County to help them understand the importance of positive education. The purpose of this event will be to explain the basic principles of the approach and encourage more organizations working with children and families in  the area to adopt it. The program will seek to attract an attendance of 100 community members. This will be in addition to the planned positive education and SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) instruction for volunteers and parents. 

Ruskin teachers refer students who are not reading or reading below grade level to the program. By addressing children with learning challenges early in their school experience, the program is able to ensure that children who are most at risk for academic failure improve their reading skills.  As a result, last school year 100% of the students served were promoted to the next grade.

Pinellas Education Foundation

The Pinellas Early Literacy Initiative, $35,000 (Three Years)

The Pinellas Education Foundation requests $35,000/year over three years for a total commitment of $105,000 to support The Pinellas Early Literacy Initiative (PELI). This initiative calls for a strategic focus on prioritizing improvements in literacy instruction for PreK-2 students and teachers in 16 Title I schools and 8-16 community-based PreK providers. By leveraging high quality professional development with instructional coaching for a cohort of PreK-2 grade teachers, PreK-2 student literacy gaps will dissipate more rapidly, effectively preparing students for the more rigorous content of grades 3-5. The need for additional resources in later grades will also be reduced. This work is supported through wide-ranging, specific partnerships with private philanthropy, including Helios Education Foundation, the Pinellas Education Foundation, Pinellas County Schools, the Pinellas Early Learning Coalition, the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center, and other local partners. Funds will be used for personnel and programmatic costs to support of a PreK literacy coach, along with professional development, mileage and minor technology needs.

R’Club Child Care, Inc.

R’Club Early Learning Enhancements Project, $21,982

R’Club Child Care requests $21,982 for our Early Learning Enhancements Project at eight Early Learning Academies (ELAs) in Pinellas County. The project supports our mission and the provision of high-quality early childhood education for 548 children from surrounding low-income communities.

Our eight licensed ELAs in Pinellas County need early learning curriculum in each classroom to maximize staff time spent with children. Funding for classroom curriculum will increase staff time spent on improving children’s outcomes and supports high-quality programs. R’Club plans to roll out a parent engagement tool at eight ELAs for contactless check-in, parent form completion, and daily communications on their child. Project funding will ensure effective parent engagement, which is integral to a high-quality early learning program.

In Pinellas County, five of eight (63%) of R’Club ELAs are in At-Risk Zones, designated as high-poverty communities.  ELAs currently serve children who are 42% Black/African American, 17% Multiracial/Other Race, and 25% Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish.

With $21,982 in funding, R’Club will use $9,598 to purchase research-based curriculum “Beyond Series” from Kaplan for two supervisors and 23 classrooms across eight ELAs. The remaining $12,384 will provide eight annual subscriptions to Procare’s Parent Engagement Application, enhancing engagement opportunities for 450 families. R’Club will contribute $2,400 in-kind for parent engagement supplies and activities.

Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Foster Grandparent Program SEL Enhancement, $48,579

We are seeking $48,579 for our Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) Social Emotional Learning (SEL) enhancement, launched with your support in 2020, to address education inequities for impoverished minority children. Without your help these children are more likely to fall even farther behind. 

FGP is a long-standing evidence-based program that helps PreK-3rd graders overcome life obstacles for academic & lifelong success. We engage trained, culturally relevant volunteers for ongoing tutoring & support from a caring adult that all kids need to thrive. Educator-guided activities build literacy. Social Emotional Learning builds resilience. We meet kids where they are to tutor/mentor in class, out-of-school & virtually, 10-30 hours/week for the FULL school year. Volunteers live in the same community they serve; kids know they understand what life is like for them. Volunteers attend monthly trainings in Curriculum; Learning Styles; Trauma-informed Teaching. Frameworks, a nonprofit known for SEL best practices, provides research-based tools to help kids face adversity in productive ways. Outcomes independently accessed by educators last year showed 88% improved literacy: 97% improved SEL.  

Funds support enriched SEL training for tutors to use with children they serve; ongoing one-on-one literacy tutoring for kids who need it most, & enhanced outreach to sustain & build partnerships with schools & out-of-school sites to help our most vulnerable children succeed in school & beyond.

United Way of Hernando County, Inc.

Hernando County’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program, $15,000

United Way of Hernando County is requesting $15,000 in support of Hernando’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) Program. The DPIL Program is designed to encourage early literacy and prepare children for academic success by providing age-appropriate books to any Hernando County pre-school child enrolled, monthly, from birth to age 5. To promote children’s excitement for learning and build their personal libraries, these high-quality books are mailed directly to participant’s home, free of charge and regardless of their family’s economic status. The DPIL Program currently provides books to 1,000 unduplicated local children a month, for a total of 12,000 books a year.