Twenty-four organizations working directly with our community’s most vulnerable populations were awarded a record total of $111,408 from the Coastal Georgia Foundation’s Community Impact competitive grants initiative. These organizations provide critical and important services to at-risk youth and their families in Glynn, Camden and McIntosh counties.
This represents the largest number and highest total of grants in the Foundation’s history for the annual competitive grantmaking program. The Foundation annually budgets $50,000 for its Community Impact grants initiative, and this year, through the generosity of fund holders and friends who contributed $66,403, grantmaking significantly increased to meet the needs of 24 recipients.
“Our Community Impact Committee identified far more worthy grant recipients providing critical services than our budget could support. For the third year in a row, we turned to our fund holders to help us make up the difference,” says Paul White, President and CEO, Coastal Georgia Foundation. “This is just one of the many ways the Coastal Georgia Foundation works with the community to solve problems. Through these grants, we were able to support these critical services, while also helping our fund holders maximize the impact of their philanthropy.”
The next Community Impact grants cycle will open in January 2020, with applications due in February 2020.
A brief description of the grant recipients and programs follows:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia, Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 for the “Early Childhood Reading Institute” an innovative program to build foundational reading skills to equip and prepare disadvantaged three year-olds for pre-k, kindergarten and beyond. The program will operate throughout the 2019-20 school year, serving forty children, age 3, living in the McIntyre Court facility of the Brunswick Housing Authority.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Glynn, Inc., Brunswick and St. Marys
A grant of $4,600 to provide software upgrades that will continue to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information maintained on children and families.
Children In Action Sports Club (CIA), Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 will provide scholarships for the Summer Outreach program. CIA utilizes sports and activities as a vehicle to help at-risk children and youth build confidence, develop character, strive for excellence, and engage in teamwork while incorporating Christian values.
Coastal Coalition for Children, Inc., Brunswick
A grant of $4,500 will institute a nine-month prenatal and infant safety awareness campaign designed to provide best practice tactics for a healthy pregnancy, delivery and infant safety.
Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority, Inc., Brunswick and Darien
A grant of $5,000 will provide at risk youth an opportunity to engage in the Georgia United Nations Assembly program that seeks to educate participants on civics, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy.
Coastal Outreach Academics/Coastal Outreach Soccer, Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 will provide program support to improve the health and well-being of children from underserved communities in coastal Georgia by combining a soccer-based youth development program with academic support.
Communities In Schools of Glynn County, Brunswick
A grant of $4,000 will support high school students in their professional development with tools that include the Birkman Personality Assessment, Interview Coaching, First Impressions, Self Leadership, and Communication/Customer Service Training.
Foster Love Ministries*, Brunswick, Darien
A grant of $5,000 will support staff training in “TBRI” (Trust Based Relational Intervention) techniques as part of initial training and licensing of foster parents & ongoing behavioral management techniques in working with foster children.
The Gathering Place, Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 will support The Gathering Place’s summer college tour, which provides rising high school seniors the opportunity to tour a wide range of academic and technical colleges across Georgia.
Girls on the Run of the Golden Isles, Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 will provide scholarships for 50 elementary and middle school girls to participate in the 10-week program in fall 2019 and spring 2020.
Glynn County Juvenile Court, Brunswick
$4,608 will help to implement a new tutoring program, “Next Grade Up” to help youth involved with the court system who are at risk of dropping out or failing courses in middle or high school.
Glynn Visual Arts*, Brunswick
$2,000 for the “Risley re-Birth Mural Project” a community project in the Risley School/Albany Street area of Brunswick. It will involve two high schools, at risk children from Safe Harbor and the Community Action Youth Leadership Initiative, foster youth, the city’s Neighborhood Planning Assembly and a variety of community members in rebuilding pride and understanding the value of human connection.
Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 will support “The Golden Isles Penguin Project” will provides young people ages 10-14 with developmental disabilities the opportunity to explore their creative talents and perform a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical.
Golden Isles Youth Orchestra, Brunswick
A grant of $4,400 will provide the “String On” program (an introduction to strings) to fifth graders at Sterling Elementary School and partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Georgia to offer lessons at the Jane Macon after school club.
Hope 1312 Collective, Inc.*, Brunswick
A grant of $4,750 will provide Trauma Informed Training for volunteers who will be working with children in the foster care system in various situations, but specifically for the summer camp program. This training will equip them with the skills to recognize and address the unique needs of the children.
House of Hope*, Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 will provide funding for residents to participate in a multi-dimensional one year educational and therapeutic program taught by highly trained individuals.
Methodist Home for Children and Youth, St. Marys
A grant of $4,050 will provide an opportunity for the boys to learn technical skills in a “work training” program.
Morningstar Children and Family Services, Inc., Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 will support the Art Therapy and Enrichment program for youth in residential foster care. Most youth at Morningstar have suffered with abuse and neglect. Through art, they are provided the opportunity to safely express thoughts and emotions while increasing self-awareness and self-esteem.
Pound 4 Pound Kids Fitness Inc.*, Brunswick
$5,000 will provide fitness training for children and other groups, geared to learning healthy habits such as diet, exercise and attitude. Intension is to build self-esteem, develop leadership skills and provide positive role models. Focus on development and assist in after-school tutoring for children as well.
Safe Harbor Children’s Center, Inc., Brunswick
A grant of $5,000 will provide computers/laptops and software for residents to complete homework and participate in afterschool tutoring at the shelter.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Darien
A grant of $5,000 will provide support for the Community Youth Connection. The grant will help fund transportation costs, food, and curriculum resources for programs that provide support to children of McIntosh County regardless of church affiliation.
Social Opportunities & Active Recreation, Inc. (SOAR), Brunswick, Darien and St. Marys
A grant of $5,000 will provide a one week “iCan Swim Program” that provides individualized specially-designed instruction for youth with disabilities to acquire water safety and swimming skills.
STAR Foundation, Brunswick
A grant of $3,500 will provide funding to implement the “STAR Employment and Education Readiness Program,” which seeks to provide young adults ages 16-24 with the foundational skills to gain employment or enter post secondary education.
Thornwell, St. Marys*
$5,000 to support the “Building Healthy Families” program an evidence-based, in-home therapy service tailored to each parent and child’s needs with practical, hands-on tools to improve children’s behavior and reduce stress for parents. These programs are designed as an early intervention, focused on preventing child abuse and neglect.
*denotes first-time competitive grant recipient
About the Coastal Georgia Foundation
The Coastal Georgia Foundation was incorporated in 2005, as a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of Glynn, McIntosh and Camden counties. The Foundation now has assets nearing $20 million and has awarded over $14 million in grants, the majority to community organizations in the three-county region and beyond. The Foundation serves ordinary citizens who have the extraordinary vision for a better life for their neighbors, friends, families, and fellow coastal Georgians - today and for future generations. The Foundation seeks to be the region’s trusted source for thoughtful philanthropic counsel, sound financial management and strategic community investment. www.coastalgeorgiafoundation.org