The Women United in Philanthropy (WUP) Grants Committee has selected finalists for the 2022 Grant Awards. Join us on May 18th to learn how a 2022 Women United in Philanthropy grant award would allow each of our non-profit finalists to magnify their impact on local women and children. Congratulations to our five nonprofit finalists.
City of Promise – Empowering Families
City of Pr
omise’s mission is to end generational poverty and to foster a culture of achievement in which all children in our community graduate from high school, ready for college or career. They accomplish this through partnerships with parents, neighbors, organizations, schools, and community. City of Promise works with families in the Charlottesville neighborhoods of Westhaven, Starr Hill, and 10th and Page. They are requesting a $20,000 grant to support Family Empowerment programs. Funding will help cover operating costs associated specifically with the Dreambuilders program which engages parents more fully in the cradle-to-college pathway. Dreambuilders is designed to support parents in reaching their own determined self-sufficiency goal and provides financial support of $1,500 toward that goal. Funds will support program costs for 12 Dreambuilders and up to 36 children over the next year.
Giving Words – Service and Community Grant
Giving Words helps single parents overcome crisis events such as transportation issues that might otherwise destabilize families. Through community partnerships, they help single parent families (although mostly single moms) struggling to meet their basic needs so they are better able to form safe and nurturing connections with their children. Giving Words is requesting a $20,000 grant to continue programs for struggling single parents in the Central Virginia area, which currently includes Louisa, Orange, Albemarle, and Charlottesville. One of their programs repairs vehicles for single parents or gives a car to a single parent in need. In cooperation with Louisa County Public Schools, CATEC, AutoZone, and local garages, Giving Words is able to repair cars for the cost of parts as well as repair donated cars that can then be given away. The funds will also be used to host a summer retreat where the parents and children can have the opportunity to learn and relax together. These events create an opportunity for single parent families to connect to their community and utilize resources that are available.
It’s not every day that a small non-profit inspires a touring band to write them a song. But when it comes to Giving Words, amazing things happen! Checkout this beautiful track by Homestead Collective capturing the essence of Giving Words’ mission.
HER Sports – Summer Academies Grant
HER Sports’ mission is to use sports as a blueprint for girls to succeed in life and to handle mental health struggles exacerbated by the pandemic by providing a holistic experience that will create positive youth development. They will empower, educate, and engage girls through programming that focuses on health and wellness, character, leadership, and sports development. HER Sports is requesting a $20,000 grant to provide funding for LevelUp and LiveIt Summer Academies for 2022 and 2023. These programs are for girls in grades 6th -12th who reside in underserved communities in Charlottesville. The Summer Academies will be a 4-week long program that will focus on promoting health and personal development through an evidence-based Life Skills Training Program, sports development with experienced coaches, mindfulness, and wellness education through partnering organizations. HER Sports anticipates 40 participants in both summer 2022 and 2023.
Reclaimed Hope Initiative – Thrive: Parent and Caregiver Support Services for Adoptive, Foster, and Special Needs Families
The mission of Reclaimed Hope Initiative is to empower and strengthen foster, adoptive, and special needs families to thrive. Families and caregivers of adoptive, foster, and special needs children can experience significant emotional, mental, and physical stress when they do not have proper resources or support. Between 40% and 85% of caregivers of children with complex care needs develop burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, or secondary traumatic stress. Without support, family relationships can suffer. Reclaimed Hope’s ultimate objective is to keep families together by preventing burnout through holistic services for every member of the family. They serve families in Charlottesville City and Albemarle County, as well as the counties of Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson, and Augusta. Reclaimed Hope is requesting a $20,000 grant for their Thrive program. This program ensures parents and caregivers have support and respite so they can better care for themselves and their families. Requested funds will support direct efforts to plan, facilitate, and evaluate twice‐monthly Thrive support group meetings, as well as program supplies, marketing and outreach, and ongoing referral support. Funds will also provide skilled professional childcare during all Thrive programs, as well as in‐home respite care for Thrive families experiencing financial, medical, or other hardship.
Shelter for Help in Emergency – Client Support Services & Community Engagement
The Shelter for Help in Emergency (SHE) works to support and empower victims of domestic violence through a combination of residential, community-based, and outreach services. SHE is committed to providing a safe, supportive, confidential, and respectful environment in which survivors of domestic violence are empowered with the knowledge of personal and community resources as well as the skills needed to make informed decisions for themselves and their families. SHE serves residents of Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. SHE is requesting a $20,000 grant to support the provision of safety, advocacy services, and resource development for victims of domestic violence. This support includes emergency safe shelter, transportation, relocation costs, and essential needs such as food, clothing, and emergency medical prescriptions. Funds will also support community outreach and information activities including volunteer recruitment and training.