Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham awards $937,500 in grants

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham recently awarded $937,500 in grants to 24 organizations working on projects to make communities sustainable, livable and vibrant; and to help individuals and families become economically secure.

Those are two of four goals the foundation is working on as part of its "Results Framework." The other two are helping people lead healthy lives and helping children succeed in the "education pipeline." The foundation awarded $974,000 earlier this year in grants to groups working on those goals.

"Our nonprofit partners continue to provide strong proposals in line with our chosen strategies to achieve these Results that our community has said it wants," James McCrary, vice president for grants and evaluation, said in a statement. "Together, we know we can drive positive change in greater Birmingham."

The process has begun for nonprofit organizations serving Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Walker counties to apply for 2012 grants in the health and education categories. The deadline for proposals is Jan. 16. The process for proposals in the communities and economic security categories opens June 4. For more information, contact McCrary at 327-3812 or go to www.foundationbirmingham.org.

Communities

The foundation awarded $647,500 in grants to groups with projects aimed at making communities sustainable, livable and vibrant. Those projects are aimed at several strategies.

? Expanding access to arts and cultural opportunities. Grants were awarded to:

Shelby County Arts Council, $100,000 over two years to help recruit donors for construction of a performing arts and community education facility.

UAB/Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, $25,000 toward Phase I of ArtPlay's weekly education outreach program, ARTreach, which serves 100 homeless families living in YW Woodlawn residences.

Seasoned Performers, $10,000 toward the cost of replacing the touring van, which transports actors and props to more than 64 performances a year for underserved seniors and school children.

? Expanding and improving public green space. Grants were awarded to:

Railroad Park Foundation, $50,000 over two years for improvements to safety and features to promote park usage, including additional security cameras, tables, chairs, plantings and maintenance services.

Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, $100,000 over two years toward Phase 1 of a Conservatory Master Plan, to create a hands-on classroom of rainforest and desert plants.

Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers, $12,500 to help build a single-track trail system at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park.

The University of Montevallo, $100,000 over two years to expand an existing trail into a state-of-the-art, one-mile fitness trail as part of a planned 35-acre Eco Park.

? Developing a vibrant city center for Birmingham. Grants were awarded to:

Birmingham Business Alliance Foundation/City of Birmingham, $50,000 over two years as a match for funding to improve gateways from highway corridors into the city center.

Alabama Moving Image Association, $15,000 to improve the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival with components such as outdoor staging, special event lighting and live entertainment.

Innovation Depot, $75,000 over three years to go toward finishing the facility to achieve full occupancy and self-sustainability.

Red Mountain Theatre Company, $20,000 to develop a strategy for making it a premier destination for family entertainment.

YouthServe, $15,000 toward operations of Urban Service Camps in downtown Birmingham, bringing young people from throughout the metro area to experience life downtown and form relationships across race, class and neighborhoods.

? Improving the environment. Grants were awarded to:

Black Warrior Riverkeeper, $20,000 for the groups work in watershed protection, from patrols to education.

Cahaba River Society, $50,000 over two years for policy advocacy and education programs to improve development practices, restore drinking water supplies and protect the river along with economic growth.

Coosa Riverkeeper, $5,000 to improve environmental quality in the Coosa Valley through patrols, monitoring and education.

Economy

The foundation awarded $290,000 in grants to groups with projects to help ensure individuals and families are economically secure. Those projects are aimed at several strategies.

? Improving housing stability. Grants were awarded to:

AIDS Alabama, $50,000 over two years to rehabilitate housing for low-income, HIV-positive people and their families and teach them how to care for homes.

SafeHouse of Shelby County, $50,000 over two years to help survivors of domestic violence and their children in the Residential Services Program learn to become self-reliant and get help with financial needs before moving to permanent housing.

Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity, $25,000 toward creation of a Homeowner Education Center with hands-on learning stations and classrooms, with the goal of helping more people prepare to buy homes.

? Promote public policy changes and direct services that help low-income individuals and families. Grants were awarded to:

Gateway, $50,000 over two years for direct services, follow-up and outreach to the economically unsecure, including clients who need longer-term financial counseling.

Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, $50,000 over two years to help immigrants by providing programs including financial literacy and volunteer income tax assistance services.

Magic City Harvest, $10,000 to support a full-time refrigerated truck driver serving Jefferson and Shelby counties.

Aletheia House, $30,000 toward a workforce training program to prepare adults who did not finish high school for administrative and support positions through education, supportive services and on-the-job training.

The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham, $15,000 to promote public policy changes to strengthen women's economic security through the "Stepping Up" project.

Norwood Resource Center, $10,000 for the volunteer income tax assistance program for low- and moderate-income families.

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5663082345

reno fire regis philbin last show regis philbin last show ray lewis crystal cathedral sarah vowell fire in reno