29
September
2015
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14:43 PM
America/New_York
2006 Grants Awarded
December 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $97,750 in grants during their December meeting, including $87,500 to organizations and $10,250 to individuals.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $15,000 to Covenant Community After-School Program, started by Covenant Presbyterian Church in Athens, which opened its doors to provide students from a neighboring middle school and high school with a safe, supervised place to gather. Grant funds will be used to update the facility’s furnishings and equipment.
- $15,000 to Health Access Initiative, a Hall County agency providing medical care, donated by area physicians, to uninsured indigent adults. Grant funds will be used to help fund a position that processes referrals, conducts screening interviews and enrolls clients, as well as coordinates appointments with HAI’s network of 126 physicians, arranges diagnostic tests and follows up with clients.
- $15,000 to L.A.M.P. (Latin American Missionary Program) Ministries, in Gainesville, to help provide high risk youths with a positive alternative to gangs and other delinquent behavior through its Community Youth Outreach program, 3-month sessions that combine group counseling and community activities.
- $15,000 to the Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry, to purchase day-to-day food resources for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which offers underprivileged clients in the Lawrenceville and Dacula areas a safety net that gives them time to deal with difficult and often temporary circumstances they are facing.
- $15,000 to Safe Kids Gainesville-Hall County, a program focusing on child safety education and the distribution of safety devices, such as life jackets and smoke detectors, to families that could not otherwise afford them. Grant funds will be used to help purchase a cargo van that will help transport materials and safety devices to various sites throughout the community.
- $7,500 to the Jackson County Health Department, to assist with the Cabbage Patch Program, which provides education, resources and support to pregnant adolescents and women who run a high risk of delivering preterm or low birth weight infants.
- $5,000 to the Madison County Health Department, to assist with the Cabbage Patch Program, which provides education, resources and support to pregnant adolescents and women who run a high risk of delivering preterm or low birth weight infants.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $3,250 for the installation of a wheelchair lift on the vehicle of a disabled individual.
- $3,500 for assistance with a down-payment on a vehicle to help a single mother get to and from work.
- $3,500 for the installation of a wheelchair lift on the vehicle of a disabled senior citizen.
November 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $43,779 in grants during their November meeting, including $38,100 to organizations and $5,679 to individuals.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $10,000 to Life Change Counseling Center, Danielsville, to help with rent assistance for office space that had previously been provided for a token amount. The center provides counseling on a donation basis to low-income residents who cannot afford professional counseling.
- $15,000 to Rising Families' Food for Life, a Jackson County food bank, to purchase food and supply means for food distribution. Last year, the food bank served an average of 250 families a month and provided more than 250,000 pounds of food through it's monthly food distributions, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.
- $9,600 to the Elachee Nature Center, in Gainesville, to provide environmental science/nature educational experiences that cannot be duplicated in the classroom for 1,600 students in Title I schools in Banks, Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties.
- $3,500 to the Sanford Men's Club, Nicholson, to assist with the renovation of the Sanford Community Center BBQ pit that the club uses to raise funds that go back into the community for individuals suffering a personal disaster, to assist local community organizations and to purchase complete outfits of winter clothing for 38-38 needy children each year.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $350 for the installation of a donated wheelchair lift on the vehicle of a disabled citizen.
- $2,364.30 for medical and prescription medicine bills for a disabled senior citizen.
- $2,965 to replace the windows in the home of a single mother whose home is being renovated by Habitat for Humanity.
October 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $65,210 in grants during their September meeting, including $57,343 to organizations and $7,867 to individuals.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $15,000 to Hope Haven, an Athens agency providing a variety of programs to support developmentally disabled individuals, to help purchase a smaller lift-equipped van that will eliminate the transportation barrier that keeps clients from small group learning experiences.
- $6,343 to the Lumpkin County Literacy Coalition to provide computer upgrades and support that will enable the Family Literacy Project to offer a computerized reading curriculum called "Reading Horizons" for adults.
- $6,000 to the Music Time Learning Center to help provide "Raising Musical Children" music education classes to underprivileged or special needs children at Gwinnett County schools and daycare centers.
- $15,000 to the Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett to help provide free women's health care to women who have unplanned pregnancies to promote healthy pregnancy and alert clients to complications, such as multiple births.
- $15,000 to Tree House, Inc., an agency focused on reducing the occurrence and impact of child abuse in Barrow, Banks and Jackson counties, to upgrade its information technology system and better support its clients' research, education and therapy needs.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $867 for HVAC system repairs and prescription medication to a disabled senior citizen.
- $3,500 for electric heat system repairs to a disabled widow who suffers from emphysema and has been trying to heat her home with a fireplace.
- $3,500 to replace the heat pump and ductwork in the home of a woman who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and cancer.
September 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $47,050 in grants during their September meeting, including $43,550 to organizations and $3,500 to an individual.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $6,300 to Barnabas Ministries, a Gwinnett County faith-based organization providing encouragement and support to men while in prison and upon their release, to cover one year's rent for office facilities and a transitional house. To help reduce recidivism and help prisoners successfully return to their families and society, Barnabas Ministries provides temporary support, counseling, life skills training and temporary housing.
- $5,000 to the Cobb Health Care Center, a Madison County long-term and home care provider, to purchase pedal wheelchairs and tilt recliners not covered by Medicaid that will help wheelchair-bound patients regain some independent mobility. Pedal wheelchairs allow patients without hand and arm function to move about. Tilt recliners allow patients confined to beds to move from bed to chair.
- $15,000 to the Gwinnett Children's Shelter to assist with Project PACTS (Parents And Children Together Succeed), a program the helps parents develop and improve their parenting skills, helps teenagers better understand parenting issues and family dynamics, and helps decrease the cycle of family violence.
- $2,250 to the Jefferson Lions Club to match funds raised by the club for its vision program, which provides eye exams and new eyeglasses for people in need, referred by Jackson County's Department of Children and Family Services. While the club budgeted $1,500 in 2005 for the program, it provided $2,700 in exams and glasses.
- $15,000 to Rainbow Village, a Gwinnett County organization that provides transitional housing for the homeless that helps them become self-sufficient, to provide case management services, along with supplies for and repairs to the housing. The case manager works with each family to set and achieve realistic goals that will allow them to break the cycle of homelessness.
Individual Grant Recipient:
- $3,500 to an elderly woman who needed assistance to replace the HVAC system in her 35-year-old home.
August 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $71,202.35 in grants during their July meeting, including $63,100 to organizations and $8,102 to individuals.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $15,000 to the Barrow County Habitat for Humanity to fund the septic system, plumbing, electric and HVAC system for a home currently being built for a single mother with two autistic children. The Barrow County chapter has a goal of providing decent housing for 25 families in 2006 by building Habitat houses as well as providing repairs for substandard housing.
- $13,100 to Eagle Ranch, a home for boys and girls in crisis located in Hall County, to fund the expansion of the facility's equine therapy program to include a total of 30 students. Used in concert with counseling sessions, interaction with horses helps develop skills in the areas of self-control, limit-setting, organization, leadership, cooperation and nurturing, as well as address numerous emotional and psychological issues such as fear, control, anger, bonding, confidence, trust and self-awareness.
- $15,000 to Family Relations Program's Victim Services/Women's Services in Gainesville to help expand the availability of a bilingual therapist to work with Hispanic clients in stopping the cycle of sexual abuse and preventing victimization of children.
- $5,000 to For Her Glory, a Gainesville agency that purchases items for cancer patients, such as wigs, compression sleeves and gloves, bras and other items that are not covered by insurance.
- $15,000 to the Jackson County Family Connection Council to fund a coordinator position for the Lindsey's Legacy youth mentoring program, a school-based program that recruits and trains adult mentors to work with students in kindergarten through 12th grade to help build skills, knowledge, personal attributes and positive attitudes to ensure those young people become healthy, educated, employable and connected through participation in family and community life.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $3,500 to a 16-year-old paralyzed in a hunting accident for a wheelchair lift to improve his mobility and quality of life.
- $1,102 to a single mother whose family situation threatened her with the loss of housing and transportation.
- $3,500 to a 16-year-old cerebral palsy patient for a refurbished Vangater lift to replace a worn-out lift, continuing to provide him and his family with mobility.
July 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $77,153.60in grants during their July meeting, including $73,653.60 to organizations and $3,500.00 to an individual.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $7,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, to the Lawrenceville and Norcross clubs for supplies and incentives used in "Power Hour," a comprehensive homework help and tutoring program attended by all club members.
- $6,500 to Creative Enterprises of Lawrenceville, to purchase equipment for a computer skills lab program that will help individuals with disabilities to learn keyboarding, Microsoft Word, data entry, email and the Internet, to make them more competitive in today's job market.
- $7,500 to the Hall County YMCA to provide scholarships for 10 underprivileged students for the 2006-2007 after-school program. The after-school program provides children from kindergarten to 8th grade with activities including homework assistance, arts and humanities, science and technology, character development, literacy, service-learning, enrichment classes, health, wellness and fitness.
- $5,500 to the Athens-Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) to help recruit and train volunteer advocates who work to protect the interests of abused and neglected children, and to find them a safe and permanent home.
- $6,000 to the Enotah Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA), serving Lumpkin County, to provide furnishing for the expansion of the CASA office to include a Visitation Center where children who have been removed from their home due to abuse and neglect can have regular, supervised visits with their parents in a safe environment.
- $3,000 to the Hall-Dawson Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) to help cover the cost of training supplies and trainers fee for volunteer advocates who work to protect the interests of abused and neglected children, and to find them a safe and permanent home.
- $7,653.60 to the Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA), serving Jackson, Banks and Barrow counties, to help recruit and train volunteer advocates who work to protect the interests of abused and neglected children, and to find them a safe and permanent home.
- $15,000 to the Hope House of Dahlonega to provide primary medical care for 30 clients who are undergoing treatment to recover from methamphetamine abuse.
- $10,000 to the Madison County Habitat for Humanity to assist with the costs of sewer lines to Phase I of its new Habitat Community in Comer, a development where ultimately14-15 simple, well-constructed homes will be built on half-acre lots with green space for gardens and play.
- $5,000 to the North Gwinnett Cooperative to help provide Gwinnett County seniors with prescription medicine assistance.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $3,500 to a 60-year-old woman who lives alone and needed a wheelchair lift to improve her mobility.
June 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $102,756 in grants during their June meeting, including $99,256 to organizations and $3,500 to an individual in need.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $5,000 to Camp Glisson's "Sparrowwood" summer program, a week-long camping experience in Dahlonega for persons with mild to moderate developmental challenges that gives campers an opportunity for social interaction and provides their respite caregivers relief from their work. Funds will be used for scholarships for those who cannot afford the camp.
- $5,000 to Gwinnett Council for the Arts' smART Honors Program, an ongoing program that enables 30 at-risk students who excel in art but are otherwise underserved to attend advanced art instruction at the Hudgens Arts Center each Saturday morning throughout the school year. Funds will be used to purchase art supplies for the smART scholarship recipients.
- $12,266 to Jones Elementary School in Gainesville to purchase a new sound system, microphones, curtain and projection screen for the school's gymnasium. The items will better enable the school to host assemblies that expose students to visual arts, music, drama, dance and character building programs, as well as encourage parental involvement through PTO.
- $15,000 to Rainbow Children's Home, an emergency shelter for abused and neglected children in Dahlonega, to build a low ropes course and provide the support staff needed to work with the children for these interventions. Low ropes courses help to develop communication, leadership and teamwork skills as well as self-confidence, self-esteem and trust.
- $1,990 to Reins of Life, a therapeutic equine facility in Lavonia, to help fund the STRIDES (Stepping Toward Results In Developing Equine and Educational Success) program that provides emotional and behavioral help to at-risk youth who have been expelled from school and are dealing with behavioral issues, ADD, relationship problems, anger management issues and self control.
- $15,000 to Salvation Army of Athens to assist with family emergency assistance for rent, clothing vouchers and medical prescriptions, as well as breakfast, sack lunch and supper for transitional housing program participants and those served by the soup kitchen for breakfast and supper.
- $15,000 to Salvation Army of Gainesville to assist with family emergency assistance for rent, clothing vouchers and medical prescriptions, as well as breakfast, sack lunch and supper for transitional housing program participants and those served by the soup kitchen for breakfast and supper.
- $15,000 to Salvation Army of Lawrenceville to assist with family emergency assistance for rent, clothing vouchers and medical prescriptions.
- $15,000 to Winder/Barrow YMCA to provide scholarships for 20 underprivileged students currently on a waiting list for the 2006-2007 after school program, PrYme Tyme. The afterschool program provides children from kindergarten to 8th grade with activities including homework, sports, games, arts, crafts, songs, skits, daily devotions, and more. The program focuses on five key character development traits of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $3,500 to a single mother who found employment, but had no transportation or access to public transportation, to assist her in finding personal transportation.
May 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $98,500 in grants during their May meeting, including $95,000 to organizations and $3,500 to individuals in need.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $15,000 to the Friends of the Braselton-West Jackson Library to help purchase reference, hardback, adult, youth and children's books, as well as books on tape for senior citizens. The Braselton-West Jackson Library's new facility, which serves patrons from Jackson, Gwinnett, Hall and Barrow counties, will open in September. While the new facility was funded by the Town of Braselton, the library must raise funds to increase their collection from the present 6,200 books to the new facility's capacity of more than 161,000 books.
- $15,000 to the Piedmont Regional Library System to purchase children's books for the Winder Public Library Children's Services and the Piedmont Regional Library Extension Services' bookmobile. The Children's Services program offers a Vacation Reading Program that was attended by 500 children in 2005, as well as weekly story time and bi-weekly programs for Head Start. The bookmobile program currently serves 27 public schools and 19 preschools and childcare centers.
- $15,000 to Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett to help pay for costs of services such as additional analysis of laboratory and imaging that must be done for patients with potentially serious medical problems. The center provides non-emergency medical, dental and optometry health care services to the working poor of Gwinnett County who do not have health insurance. While initial laboratory and imaging services are provided at no cost by the Gwinnett Health System, any abnormalities requiring further analysis must be done by an outside center and are billed to the patient.
- $15,000 to the Habitat ReStore of Hall County to purchase a box-truck that will enable the organization to pick up donated materials and appliances. The ReStore takes donated used or new building materials and sells them to the public at far below retail cost. By doing this, ReStore raises funds for Habitat house construction, makes good use of community resources and reduces landfill disposal.
- $15,000 to the Madison County Senior Center to help fund their Home Delivered Meals program serving frail and older citizens. The program allows seniors citizens to maintain independence and dignity, while receiving nutritious meals, nutrition screening, education and counseling services, and opportunities for social contact. The Madison County Senior Center currently serves 41 home delivered meals a day, five days a week, and could be serving more senior citizens with additional funding.
- $15,000 to the Norcross Cooperative Ministry to help fund their emergency Assistance Program. The program provides emergency funds for rent, mortgage and temporary lodging. Norcross Cooperative Ministry serves over 900 families each month that are experiencing temporary or long-term hardship, many of whom are referred by local churches, schools and agencies. Grant funds will allow the agency to provide a minimum support of $100 to 150 families.
- $5,000 to the YMCA of Athens to allow 14 Hispanic elementary school children to participate in the Afterschool Scholarship Program for three months. The program is designed to provide the children with opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities such as football, soccer, cheerleading, basketball, modern dance, creative writing, art and roller hockey that they could otherwise not afford. In addition, the program helps improve the children's English speaking skills and provides opportunities to learn skills and gain enrichment that will benefit them the rest of their lives.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $3,500 to a handicapped individual who lives alone to enable her to purchase a wheelchair lift for her personal vehicle, permitting her to get out of the house more and improving her quality of life.
April 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $72,054 in grants to organizations during their April meeting.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $15,000 to the Clarke County Mentor Program to further increase a broad-based, grass-roots effort to provide individual support for public school students, first through 12th grade, to provide academic and personal success. Founded as a partnership between the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and the Clarke County School District, the program has grown from 30 original mentors to more than 750, with plans to grow further.
- $15,000 to the Hebron Community Health Center to replace worn-out donated equipment, and provide diabetic supplies to clinic patients. The health center provides medical and dental care to patients with no health insurance and a maximum household income of $20,000. In addition to diabetic supplies, the grant will enable the clinic to purchase a new computer for its pharmacist, and new dental equipment.
- $14,754 to the Jackson County Habitat for Humanity to assist with kitchen cabinets, plumbing and heating and air systems for the affiliate's sixth house, now under construction, and a seventh house that will be started later this year.
- $4,300 to the Special Olympics of Madison County to help with fees and expenses for the Winter Games, equipment for the Spring Games and new uniforms for local, area and state games to replace the donated high school basketball uniforms the athletes have been wearing with uniforms that are better suited for them.
- $8,000 to the United Way of Northeast Georgia's Success by 6 Program to support a new Critical Years, Critical Needs initiative. The grant will be used to print the Critical Years, Critical Needs booklet, a resource guide on early childhood developmental needs and good child care practices, in English and Spanish. The booklet will be distributed to new parents through a partnership with hospitals in a 10-county area.
- $15,000 to Teen Pregnancy Prevention of Hall County to provide the "Smart Girls" abstinence-based education program in Hall County middle and high schools. Through "Smart Girls," young women learn the skills to overcome negative peer pressure, the tools to protect themselves against exploitation and the self-esteem to see their future potential. The program focuses on helping girls make healthy choices about sexual activity and dating relationships.
March 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $88,012 in grants during their March meeting, including $84,597 to organizations and $3,415 to individuals in need.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $12,000 to the Ark of Jackson County, Inc. to help with rent and provide medical assistance to 120 families within Jackson County. The Ark gives assistance to low-income families who have an emergency loss of income due to illness, loss of a job, loss work hours or loss of the primary income.
- $15,000 to the Banks County Senior Center to purchase a vehicle to deliver meals through the Home Delivered Meal program. Home Delivered Meals are provided to individuals age 60 or older who are homebound because of illness, incapacitation, disability, isolated or a Community Care Services program client.
- $15,000 to Challenged Child & Friends to provide scholarships for three Lumpkin County children for one year, and 14 Hall County children for two months. Challenged Child & Friends provides services to children with special needs.
- $15,000 to Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services to purchase additional phone lines and update equipment for the Gwinnett Helpline, and materials and supplies for the Great Days of Service project. The Coalition was founded to provide greater collaboration among health and human service providers within Gwinnett County, helping ensure citizens have access to needed support services.
- $5,097 to the Hall County Library System for the purchase of Special Needs Adaptive Playthings (SNAP). The organization provides adaptive toys to parents who have children with disabilities to increase their children's capabilities.
- $15,000 to Peace Place, Inc. to purchase appliances and furniture for new Transitional Housing Project. Peace Place is a short-term emergency shelter in a confidential location for battered women and their children throughout Barrow, Banks and Jackson counties.
- $ 7,500 to Prevent Child Abuse-Gainesville to provide educational materials and supplies to families of newborns. The organization's First Steps Program provides families of newborns with emotional support, educational materials and contacts to community resources in their county.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- A total of $2,215 was given to three individuals to help with rent needs, water pipe replacement and a furnace purchase.
February 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $39,155 in grants during their February meeting, including $30,640 to organizations and $8,515 to individuals in need.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $10,000.00 to the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County to help purchase a used van to transport supplies and take children served by the club from school to the club, and to field trips, library trips, community recreational facilities and events hosted by the club. The club now serves more than 260 at risk young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances.
- $5,640 to the Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia to provide 100 underprivileged girls in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe counties with girl scout membership assistance. Part of the Strong Troops Obtaining Maximum Potential (STOMP) program, this outreach effort offers Girl Scouting to girls in public housing, low income and other hard-to-serve areas, giving girls an opportunity to develop their potential and become a vital part of their communities.
- $15,000 to the Lumpkin County Family Connection to fund four Family Advocates, housed in local schools, who provide services and case management to families who are living in poverty, at risk of abusing or neglecting their children, or experiencing other crisis situations that affect their children. Family Advocates provide them with food and clothing, help the families develop plans to help their children succeed in school and link these families with other agencies who can provide assistance.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $3,380 to a single, unemployed mother, to catch up rent payments and maintain a home for her child while she is looking for employment.
- $990 to a father of two who had back surgery and needs rent assistance until he can return to work in March.
- $3,311 to a man left wheelchair bound following an automobile accident to purchase and install a wheelchair lift in his truck.
- $833 to a disabled man and wife who, due to medical expenses, need rent assistance.
January 2006
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $85,046 in grants during its January meeting, including $76,300 to organizations and $8,746 to individuals.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
- $5,000 to the Athens Community Council on Aging's Meals on Wheels, a program that provides a hot meal each weekday to homebound individuals, allowing the program to feed an additional five people for a year.
- $9,100 to the Boys & Girls Club of Barrow County, to implement the "Triple Play" program that teaches young people how to understand nutrition, make better food choices and engage in daily physical activities for the health of their growing bodies.
- $10,000 to the Dream House for Medically Fragile Children in Lilburn, to help fund the Family for Keeps program that provides support, education and skills for foster parents who provide care to children who depend on life support, medication, therapies or equipment to live.
- $7,200 to Junior Achievement of Georgia, to offer the Junior Achievement program and materials to 240 Hall County students in 12 Tadmore Elementary School classes, providing the students with an understanding of the free enterprise system so that they can become better-educated consumers, employees, citizens and leaders.
- $15,000 to Mercy Health Center in Athens, which uses a combination of funding and volunteer medical help to provide free medical and dental care, to purchase a dental x-ray unit that will be used to provide dental care to the working poor, unemployed and/or disabled and the homeless.
- $15,000 to the Rotary Club of Madison County, to purchase pressure-treated lumber and materials to construct approximately 35 handicapped ramps for area residents, selected on the basis of need, who have suffered an illness or accident and are having difficulty leaving their home.
- $15,000 to the Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center in Norcross, to develop and print their Frontline Parenting Series, a program for single parents designed to increase communication and decrease the stress that can lead to violence, with curriculum ranging from traditional parenting classes to cross-gender classes that promote understanding between mothers and sons.
Individual Grant Recipients:
- $2,250 to a disabled cancer patient, for emergency dental work.
- $2,996 to a resident whose gas furnace no longer works and is using her oven to heat her home, for the purchase and installation of a heat pump.
- $3,500 to a family whose son's rare brain disorder has left him wheelchair-bound, for the down payment on a handicapped accessible van.