Suffolk Foundation gives first round of grants

SUFFOLK

'Tis the season to be giving - and in its first round of annual grants, the Suffolk Foundation awarded between $2,000 to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations working to make the city and surrounding areas a better place to live.

The fledgling foundation was launched in 2006 by local residents. Each contributed at least $100,000 to create a community foundation to help meet the increasing needs of the city and its residents.

So far, the foundation has given away $66,700 in one-time emergency grants for tornado relief, as well as $83,000 in donor-advised funds, which are donations made to specific charities at the donor's recommendation.

The grants announced Monday morning; however, are the first official awards to nonprofits that completed an application.

Meeting needs

Even in the tight economy, the foundation was able to fund nine of the 20 groups that applied for grants this year, said Billy Hill, the foundation's executive director. The distribution committee decided, he said, to award in the area of human needs and services because of the limited funds the foundation had to work with this year.

Caroline Martin, executive director of the Western Tidewater Free Clinic said their grant will go toward providing much needed in-home medical equipment and supplies for some of the more than 800 patients the clinic serves.

"We see them in the clinic, but to really get well, they need on-going care at home," Martin said.

Michael Clark, who accepted a grant for the Suffolk Special Olympics, said the money will go for equipment, travel expenses and bowling fees to enter local Special Olympic athletes in regional and state events.

The grants were announced at a breakfast at Nansemond River Golf Club on Monday.

As he looked over the crowd of foundation officials and representatives from other foundations in Hampton Roads, Hill smiled and noted, "This has a real Suffolk feel to it."

THE RECIPIENTS
The following nonprofits were awarded a total of $41,500 in the Suffolk Foundation’s first round of annual grants:

Western Tidewater Free Clinic, $10,000
-Funding will provide supplies (such as digital blood pressure monitors, blood glucose test strips  and CPAP machines for sleep apnea patients) to help patients better manage their chronic diseases or disorders at home.

The Genieve Shelter, $7,500 
-Funding will assist with the construction of CJ’s Place, transi-tional housing for victims of domestic violence which will have  four 2-bedroom apartments  and will house  for 16 people for up to 2 years.

ForKids , $5,000
- Grant will provide seed funding to build children’s services programs, such as after-school tutoring, advocacy for children in schools, character-based education  and enrichment activities. 

Suffolk Literacy Council, $4,000
-Funds will be used to promote adult literacy, in particular, health literacy, and for programs to recruit and equip more tutors to work one-on-one with low-literacy adult learners and those who speak English as a second language.

Suffolk YMCA, $4,000
-Grant will be used for scholarships for  low-income children for after-school care program provided  for the 38-week school year.

The Children’s Center, $3,000
-Funding  will provide  scholarships for low-income children with disabilities in Western Tidewater who have a need for childcare and therapy services.

Suffolk Early Childhood Commission, $3,000
-Funding will help support the implementation of the Smart Beginnings Suffolk Early Childhood Collaborative Action Plan, targeting early childhood areas of need in the Suffolk community.

Suffolk Special Olympics – Area 29, $3,000
-Funding will support costs for regional competitions  and to add sports, such as basketball and soccer to the program.

Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia Area-wide Model Program, $2,000
-Funds will be used to provide transportation to medical appointments for Suffolk residents age 60  and older and for adults with disabilities.

Phyllis Speidell, (757) 222-5556 or phyllis.speidell@pilotonline.com