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2017 Grant Awardees

Press Release

From the Suffolk Foundation

December 7, 2017
If you would like more information contact:
757 923 9090 office
office@suffolkfoundation.org

For Release on December 7, 2017

Suffolk Foundation Awards $136,500

On December 6 2017, the Suffolk Foundation made its Annual Grant Distributions at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront. This year the Foundation was able to disburse $136,500 to thirty-two (32) different nonprofit agencies. Since the Foundation received its 501 (c) (3) nonprofit community foundation status in October 2007, it has awarded over $4,200,000 in unrestricted and donor-advised grants and scholarships.  The Foundation funded agencies seeking support in the following areas: Cultural Arts, Education, Environment, Health, and Human Need. As the invested funds continue to grow, the Board anticipates being able to support more agencies, and a diversity of needs, with more funds.

The 2017 Suffolk Foundation Grant Recipients were:

  1. Access College Foundation ($5,000) – will provide operating support of the ACCESS program in the Suffolk public high schools and in two Suffolk public middle schools, as well as the colleges Suffolk public school students are attending. (fully funded)
  2. American Red Cross of Coastal Virginia ($2,500) – will support American Red Cross direct disaster services (food, shelter, clothing, medications, etc.) to those affected by home fires and other disasters in Suffolk.
  3. Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia ($3,500) – will help support a tutoring program for 30 Suffolk students.
  4. Chesapeake Bay Foundation ($2,500) – will help support environmental science training for Suffolk Public Schools teachers.
  5. Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters ($7,500) – will help support CHKD’s Child Abuse Program by providing medical, mental health, and forensic services to children suspected of being abused and neglected.
  6. Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk ($5,000) – will help homeless families to secure sustainable, long-term housing, through the Permanent Housing for the Homeless Fund. (fully funded)
  7. Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads ($1,000) – will support the coordination of non-academic services for at-risk students in Elephant’s Fork Elementary School.
  8. Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia ($5,000) – will help support the Backpack Program in Suffolk public elementary schools, which provides food-insecure children with nutritious food on weekends and school vacations. (fully funded)
  9. ForKids ($5,000) – will help provide critical education services for homeless students in Western Tidewater by funding materials, supplies and transportation for ForKids education programs. (fully funded)
  10. Girls on the Run of Hampton Roads ($2,500) – will help support a health and wellness program for girls in four Suffolk Title 1 elementary schools.
  11. Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast ($5,000) – will support STEM programming for girls in grades K-12 living in Suffolk.
  12. Healthy Suffolk ($2,500) – will support the Suffolk Moves (Suffolk on the Move) program which encourages healthy behaviors through an active lifestyle.
  13. Nansemond River Preservation Alliance ($5,000) – will help support The Nansemond Watershed Initiative Community and School Environmental Education Program, which encourages environmental stewardship (fully funded by a grant from the Richard F. III and Carolyn Barry Donor Advised Fund).
  14. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy ($5,000) – will support the purchase of life-saving Automated External Defibrillators. (fully funded)
  15. Riddick’s Folly ($2,500) – will help support the House Museum education programs.
  16. Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia ($5,000) – will improve access to medical care by providing transportation to medical appointments for Suffolk senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
  17. Special Olympics Virginia – Area 29 Suffolk ($2,000) – will assist in funding the cost incurred for three major events: the Suffolk Games, Summer Games and Fall Championships.
  18. Suffolk Art League ($2,000) – will help fund professional visiting artist workshops in four Suffolk high schools and six Suffolk middle schools and allow for 4th and 5th grade Talented Art students to tour the Suffolk Art Gallery and participate in a hands-on workshop. (fully funded)
  19. Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts ($7,500) – will help support the SCCA’s Student Matinees, Artists in Schools Program, and youth art education initiatives.
  20. Suffolk Family YMCA ($5,000) – will help address Suffolk’s child care crisis by assisting 35 low-income children to attend an after-school program and providing 10 children with a week of summer camp.
  21. Suffolk Literacy Council ($3,000) – will help support the Tutor Support and English Language Learner Development Project.
  22. Suffolk Meals on Wheels ($6,000) – will help support funding for meals for 16 need-based recipients in the underserved areas of Suffolk and Isle of Wight.
  23. Suffolk Youth Athletic Association ($5,000) – will support the purchase of field lighting for the SYAA soccer complex.
  24. The Children’s Center ($2,500) – will support the purchase of Android Tablets for a pilot project at the Suffolk Head Start Center. (fully funded)
  25. The Genieve Shelter ($5,000) – will support emergency shelter, transportation, food and 24-hour crisis intervention for domestic violence survivors.
  26. The Salvation Army, Suffolk Corps ($7,500) – will help support the basic needs programs and community center programs of the Salvation Army and the Robert Harrell Physical Health and Education Center. (fully funded)
  27. The Suffolk Cheer Fund ($2,500) – will provide toys to needy Suffolk children at Christmas. (fully funded)
  28. The Up Center ($2,500) – will help support outpatient counseling services for 468 individuals in Suffolk and the surrounding areas by providing Trauma Informed Care Services.
  29. United Way/United for Children ($7,500) – will help support the Suffolk Public Schools “LEAP” and “LAUNCH” summer school programs for 1,000 Title 1 at-risk students in K-8th grade.
  30. Virginia Legal Aid Society ($5,000) – will help support the “Strengthening Families with Children” program, which incorporates legal advice and representation to strengthen low-income families.
  31. Western Tidewater Free Clinic ($7,500) – will help provide dentures to 50 Suffolk patients to improve their overall health, self-esteem and employability.
  32. Western Tidewater Virginia Heritage ($1,500) – will support the creation of a documentary about the history and importance of the peanut in southeastern Virginia.

32 Grantees, 32 Grants
Total Unrestricted Funds Awarded $131,500
Total Donor Advised / Designated Funds Awarded $5,000
Grants Total $136,500