Neighborhood Unity Foundation Awards Mini-Grants to Local Community Organizations

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Voice & Viewpoint News Wire

The Neighborhood Unity Foundation gave $30,500 to 17 organizations that work in Southeastern San Diego recently. Their Mini-Grant theme “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” enables community groups and 4th District residents to have productive, safe, healthy, and more educated lives. The foundation’s community-based board of directors hosted a dinner and awarded funds ranging from $500 to $4,000 on March 11, 2014. Partners in the grant making process include Wells Fargo Bank, the Ackerman Foundation, and The Legler Benbough Foundation. Here are highlights of the award celebration to some of the many groups who received funds specifically earmarked to help their programs and community initiatives.

  • Focused and Naturally Confident Youth –FANCY- Teen Expo encourages an increase in college graduation rates and decrease unintended pregnancies. Teen girls will be encouraged by successful women and community role models in workshop topics include gang and domestic violence prevention, and goal setting to achieve success.
  • The Emerging Young Leaders and High School Leadership Program, sponsored by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, works with middle and high school youth to improve their neighborhoods through community service activities. An emphasis on leadership skill development, awareness of educational opportunities for college and universities, and exposure to various career professionals as mentors will promote and foster youth to become successful leaders today and tomorrow as they participate in community issues.
  • Samuel F.B. Morse High School’s Food Science and Health class has a Culinary Arts project during and after school for the culinary arts students. Youth will learn food science, good eating habits, and how to prepare and cook healthy nutritional foods. An executive chef with over 30 years’ experience will work with the class for the entire year and parents of each student can also attend to strengthen the health and wellness of the community.
  • The San Diego Compassion Project sponsors an annual dinner for survivors of violent loss. Their project unites people who have suffered traumatic incidents. The Compassion Project provides support or counseling as they mentor and outreach to families and community members who lost children and other loved ones to homicide.

Mini-Grant programs began in 2006 with support from larger foundations that assisted the smaller Neighborhood Unity Foundation with capacity to grow its community giving to eligible groups and individuals. Approximately 38 grant applications were submitted this year, and those who were not selected due to a limited amount of funding are encouraged to try again and re-submit next time the board announces another cycle opportunity later this year. Visit the foundation’s website at www.neighborhoodunity.org for information on the Neighborhood Unity mission and focus. For more information or a list of other 2014 Cycle One grant recipients, contact Maslah Farah, Executive Director at (619) 527-4570.