GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation has awarded 13 grants to local non-profit programs. The grants were given to non-profit programs serving the youth, elderly, and low income, as well as a consortium of arts and culture organizations. The grants were awarded through the Funds for Greater Green Bay, a collection of field of interest and unrestricted funds of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, and in partnership with generous donors who have funds at the Community Foundation. Field of Interest Funds support particular interest areas or causes, or specific geographic areas. Unrestricted Funds are flexible funds of the Community Foundation that respond to the current needs of people in Brown, Kewaunee and Oconto counties. These funds support programs in any non-profit sector, including arts and culture, education and learning, the environment, health, human services, and neighborhoods and community. The grants were awarded based on a competitive application process including a review by a grants team consisting of community volunteers. One of the grants awarded during this grant cycle is for the Brown County Federation of History Museums to plan and coordinate disaster and emergency planning workshops for eight history museums in Brown County. The museums will partner for hands-on disaster scenario training, purchase emergency supplies, and cross-train between eight local institutions and establish procedures for cooperative responses to emergencies so that our community and these institutions can benefit from a broad professional level of preparedness. Not only will this program ensure that some of the community’s greatest treasures are protected and preserved, but the coordinated planning will provide an efficient and low cost method to limit the damage caused by a catastrophic event. The Community Foundation promotes and encourages collaborations between non-profits, such as what is demonstrated by the Brown County Federation of History Museum’s disaster training program, to benefit the community and to create efficiencies, more effective solutions to problems, and greater impact for the local community. Additional grants awarded from the Funds for Greater Green Bay are: Site-Based Youth Mentoring: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin will identify, recruit, train, engage, and support additional youth and mentors for their site-based program, which allows youth and mentor matches to meet at schools or other after-school sites. Aging Out Educational Program: CASA of Brown County, Inc will develop an educational program, train staff, and provide information and guidance to CASA children ages 14-18 that are aging out of the foster care system. This program will prepare these youth with life skills, job skills, and information about post-secondary education so they can be ready for the real world. Daycare for Children of Homeless/Foster Teens and Young Women: Marion House will provide day care to children of Marion House residents and Salvation Army Transitional Housing clients as they seek employment. Clients of Marion House are pregnant or parenting teens, aged 18-21, who are mainly from the foster care system. Fort Howard School Liaison: Family & Childcare Resources of NEW will provide a liaison at Fort Howard School to provide parent and child education and family visits for low-income, at-risk families. The liaison offers support services for families new to the school, and playgroups. Backpacks with Nutritious Food: Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin provides backpacks with nutritious food to low-income children to use during the weekends when food may not be readily available at home. Each child receives a backpack full of approximately 12 pounds of food. Respite Care for Autistic Children: Green Bay Autism will provide 180 hours of specialized childcare for children with autism so that parents can attend parent support groups. Green Bay Autism provides a virtual and physical setting for families living with autism to share resources and to connect with others in Green Bay who have children with autism. Music for a Great City Program: Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the Green Bay Area Public Schools, will visit 6th grade classrooms to engage students in music participation. Music based activities are integrated into the curriculum and students and their parents are invited to attend a concert for free. Scientific research shows that participation in music has been linked with increased development, improved school grades, and better adjusted social behavior. Children’s Programming: Howe Neighborhood Family Resource Center, Inc. provides staffing and supplies for elementary-aged afterschool tutoring, one-to-one mentoring, and an early literacy book club for preschoolers. Childcare for ELL and GED Classes: Literacy Green Bay offers childcare for children of parents attending the English Language Learning and GED classes of the Child First Family Literacy program. The childcare classes teach children activities that prepare them to succeed in school. Wellspring: Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan oversees Wellspring, a drop-in support center for women, many of whom are homeless, at-risk, previously incarcerated, or suffering from mental illness. Funding will assist for staff and facilitation time, technology, assistance with job skills and resumes, supplies, and transportation for Wellspring participants. Hmong Senior Program: N.E.W. Curative Rehabilitation, Inc. offers a program to the elderly Hmong population to foster an avenue for these individuals to preserve their stories, language, and traditions with the younger generation, while also providing an opportunity for fellowship, socialization, health screenings, education, and other activities. Retired and Senior Volunteer Program: Volunteer Center Inc. of Brown County offers this program, which provides people 55 years and older with opportunities to share their skills, talents, and experiences in a volunteer capacity in order to respond to a variety of community needs.About the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation
Established in 1991, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that manages more than 500 funds, and distributes grants to between 400 and 500 non-profits each year. Community Foundation grants provide funding for programs and services that improve the quality of life in Northeast Wisconsin, supporting human services, education, arts and culture, the environment, and more. Our mission is to inspire and encourage charitable giving in Northeast Wisconsin by connecting people who care with solutions that strengthen our community. For more information, please visit our website: www.ggbcf.org.
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