Groups awarded grants to serve children

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By Celine Klosterman

Eight organizations that serve children in the Diocese of Davenport have been awarded a total of $44,800 from St. Vincent Home Corporation.

Grant recipients, chosen Oct. 27, are:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great River Area, Keokuk: $3,800. This organization serves middle-school children in the Keokuk and Fort Madison area, which has among the highest unemployment rates in the state. The program being funded pairs children with adult role models and provides safe, supervised activities. The grant will fund events as well as supplies and food for group activities.

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• Emma Cornelis Hospitality House, Fort Madison: $5,000. The grant will help provide temporary shelter, food and clothing to children and their families. In 2010, 21 children were served. So far in 2011, 27 children have been served.

• Humility of Mary Housing Inc., Davenport: $12,000. This program expects to serve approximately 150 children from about 70 families experiencing homelessness in the next year. The funds will help cover the cost of rented homes at one site, the food pantry, and salaries of two site managers.  The goal is for at least 75 percent of the families to exit to permanent housing, 82 percent to increase their education or job training, and 25 percent to increase their income.

• Information, Referral & Assistance Services — Jericho Supportive Housing, Clinton: $6,500. The organization’s main objective is to give families time to stabilize their lives, set goals, improve behavior and make long-term plans. The project being funded will help provide affordable rental units, household supplies, furnishings and heat for winter months and assist with maintenance and repairs to units. Currently, seven children live in Jericho.

• Project Renewal, Davenport: $7,000. Project Renewal expects to serve 80 children over the next 12 months by providing educational and recreational activities for low-income, at-risk youths. The grant will provide a stipend for college students to plan and supervise activities for the 2012 summer youth program. The youths will receive tutoring, participate in art and craft projects, play games, use computers, garden and make field trips.

• Safer Foundation, Davenport: $4,500. The grant will help fund the youth empowerment program. Approximately 60-70 youths who have had a brush with the law will complete a program that emphasizes service to others. Also offered is GED instruction, employment training, job referral and placement, life skills training, oversight of community service hours and help with placement in vocational and post-secondary education programs.

• Young House Family Services, Burlington: $5,000. The counseling program served a monthly average of 68 families and 142 individuals between July 2009 and June 2010. Clients are charged on a sliding-fee scale.

• YWCA, Clinton: $1,000. The YWCA Children’s Center will be expanded and licensed for an additional 96 children. The current Children’s Center serves more than 250 children in child care and preschool, 76 percent of whom receive financial assistance. The grant will help families who do not qualify for assistance through traditional programs.

Grant recipients will receive funds later this month.

In all, St. Vincent Home Corporation received nine grant requests totaling $81,400. The grants are funded chiefly by the corporation’s investment income. Funds go to organizations whose mission is consistent with that of the former St. Vincent Home in Davenport. Beginning in 1895 that home served as an orphanage, relocation center for displaced children, residential treatment center for teens and a child-placement agency.

Lay people, Sisters, priests and Bishop Martin Amos serve on the corporation’s board.

Funds will be awarded each fall. The deadline to apply for next year’s grants is Sept. 15, 2012.  Grant criteria and an application form are available at www.davenportdiocese.org/socialaction/sastvincenthomecorporation.htm.


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