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The mission of the Racine Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Racine County by encouraging and providing opportunities for charitable giving and by managing and distributing the funds in a responsible manner.
Racine Community Foundation Awards
$186,888 in First Quarter Grants
RACINE (April 2013) – The Board of Directors of the Racine Community Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $186,888 in first quarter grants. The twenty organizations benefitting from these grant awards include the following:
Southern Lakes Area Love, Inc. will receive a grant for the Echo Lakes Disaster Relief Fund established exclusively for the sixty families displaced by the fire. The grant will assist families with rent and utilities for the next few months while Echo Lakes rebuilds the Burlington plant, until families find alternative employment. Additionally, the grant will allow families weekly access to the Food Pantry.
The Hospitality Center (an outreach ministry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church serving homeless people in Racine) will receive grant support to create a 15-minute video documentary aimed at increasing awareness of The Center. In collaboration with the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, the video will focus on social justice programs, increasing volunteer participation and positioning The Center for long-term sustainability.
Mitchell Elementary has been approved for a grant to organize social opportunities for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
students from the school. Through a variety of programming events and exchanges with other Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing peers, the program is designed to build self-esteem and promote positive social interaction.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter will receive support to help individuals learn about and manage the disease and access resources. Through both a referral and a “hands-on” approach, the Chapter’s Crises Management Program helps clients address financial emergencies and secure counseling and medical equipment. They also provide scholarships for summer camps and first-year higher education.
Catholic Central High School will receive help to purchase a new mini-bus to transport students to and from school, retreats, field trips, sporting events and collaborative programming with feeder schools.
Fifth House Ensemble (5HE) has been approved for a grant to be used for scholarship support for a chamber music festival to be held next June. The program will bring college and post-graduate composers and instrumentalists together to premiere thirty new works of chamber music. Scholarships are intended to attract top-level talent and compete with other low-cost or no-cost festivals.
Greater Racine Belle City Bloom (Fiscal Agent: City of Racine) will receive a grant in support of Belle City in Bloom (BCIB), a local organization participating in the America in Bloom national campaign and contest to promote City and County beautification and community involvement. The organization will seek to engage private residents, business owners, municipal departments, school groups, among others, to plant trees and flowers and compete for recognition in a variety of categories.
Hawthorn Hollow/Alliance for the Great Lakes (Fiscal Agent: Hyslop Foundation) will receive support for the WATERshed (We All Take Environmental Responsibility) program that engages 4th and 7th grade students, through study and experiments, to learn how daily human activities impact local watersheds, water quality and aquatic life.
HOPES Center of Racine, Inc. has been approved for a grant in support of its Social Services Program. The program focuses on homeless individuals and/or those suffering from mental illness or addictions, or both. The grant will assist with case management, mental health and alcohol or drug addiction counseling, street outreach and access to professional healing arts in an effort to help clients develop independent, productive lives.
ITN Racine County (Independent Transportation Network) will receive support to hire an additional full-time employee after nearly doubling their ridership in one year. The organization provides local transportation services for member seniors. With additional employee support the organization will seek to increase membership by 5 people each month and expand by 15 the number volunteer drivers by December 2013.
Leadership Racine has been approved for a grant to continue its work recruiting future community leaders and providing an education process to strengthen participants’ leadership skills, foster community awareness, develop a sense of community trusteeship, facilitate opportunities to serve the Racine community and support the alumni association in identifying leadership development opportunities.
Over Our Head Players, Inc. will receive a grant in support of production expenses, including play royalties, sets, costumes and props to complete their 2012-2013 performance season.
Polish National Alliance will receive support for their annual Polish cultural picnic that features a Catholic Mass in Polish, ethnic foods and showcases artists who provide entertainment in Polish traditions.
Racine Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol (CAP) will receive support allowing twelve CAP cadets to travel to the Wright Patterson Museum in Dayton, Ohio. The purpose of the multi-day trip is educational. The grant supports ground transportation to and from the museum, lodging and meals.
Racine Police Athletic Association has been approved for a grant to support the Golden Touch Boxing Club, a program of structured boxing training for at-risk, inner-city youth. Participants will be required to enroll in the existing Young Leaders Academy educational initiatives program which emphasizes academic achievement and reversal of negative behaviors.
River Bend Nature Center has been approved for a grant to purchase equipment and supplies for science-based environmental education for private, public and home-schooled K-8 students in the Racine area. Exploring scientific concepts through age-appropriate “hands-on” activities will be the focus of the project.
Schulte Elementary PTA will receive support for the purchase of new playground equipment. As a community-build project modeled by the “Our Dream Playground” organization, local volunteers will replace outdated and unsafe equipment and a main structure that is over 40 years old.
SOAR of Racine (Scholarships, Opportunities and Access of Racine) has been approved for a grant to support the increasing number of participants at its expanding number Education Enrichment Centers. Programming includes group homework assistance, quarterly student and parent meetings, mentoring and coordination between teachers, social workers and staff.
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC) has been approved for a grant to support the business education and one-on-one business assistance for an anticipated 300 Racine individuals who seek to start new businesses in all sectors.
An Executive Director Grant was given to the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for the Wisconsin State Convention that will be held in Racine April 26-27, 2013.
In other business, Mary Beth Mikrut, Executive Director, reported that as of April 5, 2013, the assets of the Racine Community Foundation were $43,186,729. During the first quarter of 2013, the Board of Directors approved contributions, memorials, new funds and additions to existing funds totaling $387,139.68.
The Racine Community Foundation, Inc. is a publicly supported, tax-exempt charitable organization formed in 1975. The mission of the Racine Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Racine Countyby encouraging and providingopportunities for charitable giving and by managing anddistributing the funds in a responsible manner.
Information about the Foundation and the grant application procedure are available by contacting the Foundation at 262-632-8474 or its website at www.racinecommunityfoundation.org.
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Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
