The Greater Kanawha Valley Board of Trustees approved at its June 15, 2016 meeting the distribution of 19 Second Quarter grants totaling $425,616.
WVU Foundation received a field of interest grant in support of the Children's Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) where girls like 5-year-old Nevaeh, who is totally blind, can attend camp.
"On Monday she was so frightened of all the new sounds," her mom recalls. "By Wednesday she was excited for the day. On Friday she got up on stage in front of 600 people and played her tambourine along with the music. Thank you CVRP."
A total of 15 responsive grants for $305,856 were made for basic Needs, arts & culture and field of interest. All of the three focus area goals: education, health, and civic engagement and community building will be met by one of four collaborative grants equaling $119,760.
The Dental Care for Low-Income Pregnant Women and Veterans oral health project, a partnership amongst WV Health Right and the Women's Health Center, provides dental health education and access to dental care for two vulnerable, at-risk populations: low-income pregnant women and veterans. This access will improve their oral health and overall health status.
The Apprenticeship Child Development Specialist (ACDS) program, which was developed in WV for child care providers, is based upon the U. S. Department of Labor apprenticeship model and provides college credit. This project will update the curricula and provide trainings in TGKVF's six-county region as well as provide resource boxes for instructor use within the service area.
The Accent Education: Summer and Afterschool Youth Programming project serves rural, at-risk students in the Upper Kanawha Valley and western Fayette County. The program provides core academic support with a STEM emphasis as well as other enrichment opportunities for students and their families in a safe environment. The program provides an after-school program during the academic year and an Energy Express site during the summer months.
The Futures Leaders Academy, a joint program of WVSU and KISRA, is a three-phase program in leadership development and civic engagement for high school students. The project will include Phase I: An Introduction to Leadership Development and Community engagement; Phase II: A Change Leaders Institute; and Phase III: A Dual Credit Course on Civics and Leadership in Communities. Up to twenty five students from Buffalo High School and Capital High School are expected to participate. Funding will be for Phase I of this pilot program.
Funding will support the Appalachian Festival of Young Voices four-day national children's choir festival hosted by the Appalachian Children's Choir Chorus in Charleston, WV. The festival immerses our own children, as well as children from choirs all around the United States, in Appalachian music and culture.
Arts in Action classroom performances provide arts education and performance opportunities for youth from Putnam and Kanawha counties. Classes include dance, music, visual arts, and theater; students also participate in summertime Artistic Discovery Camps and dance workshops. Funding helps ensure all children, including those with developmental and physical disabilities, have access to the arts regardless of economic status.
Funding will support the Charleston Ballet 2016-17 Season. Assistance will include guest artist expenses including the October program, December's NUTCRACKER with the WV Symphony, and a full length February performance with Columbia Classical Ballet. All performances exhibit educational and cultural diversity components and include BALLET FOR ALL and 21st Century Learning Programs.
Funding will support the Charleston Civic Chorus's five performances in 2016: A Celebration Concert on April 24, FestivALL Concert on June 20, Winter Concert on December 4, and two concerts for the Charleston Good Night Festivities on December 31.
Funding will support Coda Mountain Academy Summer Music Festival. This Festival is a two-week, residential music camp in Fayetteville, WV. Faculty and staff for the Summer Music Festival are graduates of top music schools and conservatories. Coda offers classical and bluegrass lessons and includes private instrumental classes, chamber ensemble couching, personal practice guidance, and performance opportunities.
The goal of PAAC's Closing the Gap Through the Arts program is to provide opportunities for artistic expression to a marginalized youth population in the greater Charleston area. This funding will pay for scholarships that will allow youth from the M.L. King, Jr. Community Center to participate in dance education with the Charleston Ballet.
Funding will support the "Full STEAM Ahead! K-12 Educational Tour," which improves educational engagement from students and increases comprehension in core subjects. Dance performances incorporate lessons from many fields, including science, technology, engineering, and math.
Funding will support the Heart and Hand South Charleston and the Heart and Hand Putnam County Basic Needs Programs ability to provide emergency assistance to support low income families with their basic needs of shelter, food, and clothing in South Charleston and Putnam County.
Funding will support the Patchwork program with providing food, clothing and shelter for youth who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. Patchwork is a 24 hours intervention center and shelter for youth ages 12 and older.
Funding will support the operations of Rae of Hope, which provides safe, affordable housing for West Virginia women focused on recovery from alcohol and/or drug addiction. In a positive, homelike environment those in recovery begin to develop self-sufficiency.
Funding will support SALS ability to provide residents with their basic needs by providing food, utility assistance information, and shelter services to eligible families within rural areas of Fayette County.
The Perishable Food and Medicine Resiliency Project seeks to strengthen food security in times of disaster by placing generators in food pantries located in counties that have high rates of declared disasters. Funding will support placing generators in TGKVF's service area.
Funding will support the YWCA Sojourner's Shelter for Homeless Women and Families a 75-bed facility that provides shelter and direct support services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Services are provided to single women, women with children, men with custody of their children, veterans, and intact families.
Funding will support the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program ability to provide emergency shelter, food, and clothing vouchers for victims of domestic violence in Boone, Clay, and Kanawha Counties.
Funding will support the Children's Vision Rehabilitation Program and WV SenseAbilities to ensure children with visual impairments, including CVI, blindness, and low vision, receive services from knowledgeable providers. Services include medical evaluations to follow the progression of eye diseases, optical devices, self-sufficiency training. The programs also provide a venue for children with visual impairments to expand their comfort zones and increase creativity.