Helping with reading and providing words of encouragement are some of the ways Foster Grandparents interact with elementary school-aged children in 23 area schools.
With a $25,000 grant from Women in Philanthropy of the Central Savannah River Area, the Senior Citizen Council can expand the services of the program.
“They go into schools to mentor at-risk children from kindergarten to third or fourth grade. They help with literacy, math. They teach appropriate social interaction skills and really engage because they don’t get that type of environment at home,” said Kathleen Ernce, the council’s executive director.
On March 21, Women in Philanthropy distributed close to $186,000 in grants to 10 area non-profits at a luncheon at the Augusta Country Club.
The organization’s main focus is to fund programs that impact women and children, according to Nan Easler, grant chair.
Nearly 40 grant proposals were submitted this year. Those selected cover a wide range of topics.
Public Education Partners received $6,215 for its “My Own Book” Literacy Initiative. The organization gives Aiken third graders a $15 voucher to spend at the book fair. Child Enrichment received $25,000 for a forensic medical program to provide needed services to abused children on-site.
“They are across the board which is what’s so fun about it,” Easler said of the grant requests received this year.
Applications go through a rigorous process which includes site visits to the organizations and a vote among its members. Funds are distributed until the year’s allotment for grants is depleted. Women in Philanthropy doesn’t give partial grants but awards the full amount the non-profits request.
Other grants included $19,500 to Columbia County Community Connections for Food4Kids; $15,000 to ReStart Augusta for bed building; $25,000 to Project Refresh for shower day expansions; $30,000 to the Center for New Beginnings for direct services assistance; $5,000 to Pregnant Choices Medical Clinic for client follow up and GROW (Guiding with Resources and Openness for Women); $15,000 to St. Vincent DePaul Society Georgia for Systematic Change Program; and $20,000 to Kids Restart for support of mothers and children.
This was the 18th annual luncheon.
Penny Wasden, the organization’s board chair, called Women in Philanthropy of the Central Savannah River Area a collective women’s group that was born from two organizations- the Community Foundatoin of the CSRA and the United Way of the CSRA.
The spring luncheon is a signature event.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
