2017 – 2018 Community Assistance Grant Recipients

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Each year, The Junior League of Houston, Inc. provides Community Assistance Grants to worthwhile organizations that do not receive ongoing volunteer support or financial assistance through the League’s Community Projects. The League’s Community Assistance Committee reviews the grant requests based on their alignment with member-determined impact areas and conducts site visits before making recommendations for funding. When selecting recipients, the committee considers whether an agency request would address a critical or basic need, fund a pilot project or expand a significant service to the community.

For 2017 – 2018, the League awarded $175,000 in Community Assistance grants to the following agencies:

A.A.M.A. (Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans): A.A.M.A. offers an Early Childhood Center to support teen parents attending their charter school and other families in Houston’s East End. League funds will provide critical improvements to their facilities, including a water fountain and commercial-grade washer and dryer.

Arms Wide Adoption Services: Arms Wide Adoption Services aids children in the state-sponsored foster care system that have been removed from their birth homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. League funds will fully fund “Camp Boo,” a family camp serving 70 – 80 campers, including adopted foster children and their families.

B.I.G. Love Cancer Care: B.I.G. Love Cancer Care serves hematology/oncology patients under the age of 21 in Southeast Texas. League funds will support the L.I.F.T. (Love in Fragile Times) Program which serves patients at Texas Children’s Hospital experiencing a crisis affecting home life, living situations, relapse in disease and end of life.

Books Between Kids: Books Between Kids provides a home library of books to economically disadvantaged children in schools in over 30 ZIP codes in Harris County. League funds will provide books to more than 2,600 children at seven early childhood centers across Houston.

Camp For All: Camp For All is the only barrier-free camp in Central and South Texas serving children, youth and adults with serious illnesses and special needs. League funds will support 75 campers attending Camp For All 2 U, a program which brings the Camp For All experience onsite to critically ill or special needs children and their siblings. Camp For All 2 U emulates the camp experience, modifying activities in order to deliver them in a clinical setting.

Community Family Centers: Community Family Centers distributes over two million pounds of food annually through their Family Support Services program to families in Houston’s impoverished Greater East End. League funds will support supplemental produce and food for their Friday Food Fair program.

Cristo Rey Jesuit: Cristo Rey Jesuit targets students from economically disadvantaged communities and offers a faith-based, college preparatory education. League funds will support ACT test preparation for all juniors and seniors who attend Cristo Rey Jesuit.

Family Point Resources: Family Point Resources serves families in the Nottingham Park area who are 85 percent economically disadvantaged, representing 26 different countries. League funds will support the library and after-school enrichment programs for middle school and high school students with a focus on college and career readiness.

Junior Achievement:  Junior Achievement’s BizTown program combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated city where they operate banks, manage businesses, develop skills in team building, decision making and critical thinking. League funds will allow six schools, with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students who are unable to obtain funds to attend, to send 150 students each to BizTown.

Project Joy and Hope: Project Joy and Hope provides relief for critically ill children and their families through education and supportive care services and programs. League funds will support a new sibling support program and day camp for families who have a critically ill child.

San Francisco Nativity Academy: San Francisco Nativity Academy is a non-tuition based private Christian school focusing on empowering low-income students to reach their full potential through a challenging curriculum, spiritual development and family support within an extended day and extended year. League funds will provide breakfast for their students for one school year.

Small Steps Nurturing Center: Small Steps Nurturing Center provides a high-quality education; social and emotional support; a nurturing Christian environment; transportation; and nutritious meals to children ages two through six living in poverty. League funds will support food to all children for the school’s nutrition program.

Stages Repertory Theatre: Stages Repertory Theatre’s Education and Community Engagement program focuses on art education to nurture creativity and critical thinking. League funds will  support 285 students from Title I schools attending the 2018 Pantomime productions.

West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM): West Houston Assistance Ministries assists with critical and basic human needs including food, clothing, financial aid and employment services. League funds will support their employment services and care ministry initiatives.

WINGS Ministries: WINGS Ministries offers a seven-week course of work/life skills to at-risk women who are either incarcerated or in residential recovery programs for drug and alcohol addiction. League funds will support their work/life skills programming.