Alpha House of Tampa
With a grant of $10,000, Alpha House was able to continue their Parents as Teachers program with resident mothers and their children. The Parents as Teachers’ philosophy encourages mothers to be their child’s first teacher, armed with the tools and knowledge to ensure that their child thrives in a healthy and well-adjusted way, both physically and emotionally. The program focuses on the child’s developmental needs during the ages of 0-5. Alpha House counselors are able to provide information to mothers about the stages of development every child will experience along with how to recognize and track their child’s progress. Gaining an understanding of their child’s progress gives young mothers the skills needed to interact with her child in a way that maximizes his or her developmental potential. Inexperienced mothers have the opportunity to gain a sense of a confidence in their parenting skills and are better able to prepare their children to become independent, young adults.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
Big Brothers, Big Sisters received a grant for $10,000 that was able to fund their organization’s Big for a Day Event, located at MacDill Air Force Base. Big for a Day is a day-long activity that allows 100 children who have not yet been matched with a "Big" to be paired with a member of the Air Force who will serve as each "Little’s" volunteer mentor. The children will have the opportunity to meet with their potential "Big" and experience a day of fun and games along with a tour of the base. The children served at Big for a Day and all of the organization’s events are those who show a number of risk factors and will benefit the most from a healthy interaction with a mentor who may help guide them through their struggles and lead them on a path to success. These risk factors include growing up in a family living below poverty level, being raised in a single-parent family, having a caretaker or family member suffering from a life-threatening illness, etc. The remainder of the grant was used for a trip to Adventure Island theme park and Cypress Gardens for the children and their "Bigs." The trip was a time for the children to bond and play with their mentors, an experience that their families would otherwise be unable to afford.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay
The Boys and Girls Club adopted the Youth of the Year Leadership and Citizenship program. The program is intended to inspire and enable young people, especially those from disadvantageous circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens. The program recognizes those club members, ages 14-18, who have excelled in academics, demonstrated strong leadership among their peers, dedicated themselves to serving their community, and have been positive role models for the younger children. As a reward for their accomplishments, their grant of $10,000 was used to take those select young members, along with their counselors, on a trip to Washington D.C. The trip was a valuable learning experience for each of the children. They toured each of the government buildings, the White House, Executive Office, the Capital, and the Supreme Court. They also visited historical sites, the Smithsonian American History Museum, the Holocaust Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, national monuments, and Ford Theatre. Each of the youth who attended kept a journal that accounted their experiences throughout each of day of the trip, what they learned, and how the knowledge they have gained has impacted their lives.
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator received a $10,000 grant that was used to evaluate the financial integrity of 20 non-profit organizations in the Tampa area that were currently not featured on the Charity Navigator website. These organizations are aligned with the mission guidelines set forth by the Hobbs Foundation, those committed to directly benefiting disadvantaged youth.
Computer Mentors Group
Computer Mentors Group, with a $10,000 grant, was able to fund a Back-to-School Computer Campaign for Tampa area students from low-income families. Computer Mentors staff and volunteers purchased software licenses and hardware components that allowed them to refurbish used computers that were in turn donated to 61 deserving students. Funding was also used to cover personnel expenses, transportation expenses to transfer donated computers, and storage fees to house the computers. Computer access is essential for young students to have the opportunity for achieve academic success.
Covenant House Florida
Covenant House received a $10,000 that allowed them to purchase baby supplies for the children of teenage parents that reside in Covenant Houses’ emergency crisis shelter. Supplies include baby formula, diapers, food, pacifiers, bottles, and blankets. These supplies will give economically disadvantaged mothers the opportunity to give their children the things they need while they develop a plan toward a more stable, independent living situation.
Florida Baptist Children’s Homes
With a $10,000 grant, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes gave their children a summer camp experience to share along with children living in their other six Florida branch homes, 132 children in total. Their camping retreat at Lake Yale campground has allowed the children to participate in group activities, scavenger hunts, water sports, swimming, pony rides, etc. The children had a retreat experience with fun and play while forming lasting friendships with their peers. They have learned about teamwork, friendly competition, overcoming challenges, and becoming more confident in their abilities.
God’s Pedal Power Ministry
God’s Pedal Power is an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for children from economically disadvantaged families in university area of Tampa. Each year at Christmas, God’s Pedal Power gives bicycles to children in need in hopes that it will give them the chance to attend school everyday and participate in after-school activities. In an area where many families cannot afford to own a car, finding transportation for their children is often difficult. Giving a child their own bicycle encourages them to take responsibility for their future. With a $10,000 grant, God’s Pedal Power was able to purchase additional bicycles as well as helmets, light kits, and locks for 106 underserved children in the Hillsborough County Foster Parent system.
Hope Children’s Home
Hope Children’s Home was able to build two residential cottages, with a $10,000 grant, to house the growing number of abused, neglected, and orphaned children that are provided safe haven and a stable home at Hope Children’s Home. Funds were used toward the purchase of materials for the building structure, drywall, fixtures, and flooring for the interior, excavation and fill, concrete slab, plumbing, electric, and concrete.
Joshua House
Joshua House received a $25,000 grant that created a networked computer lab. The lab houses 10 computers with internet accessibility for 60 abused and neglected children that reside and study at Joshua House. Each home now has 2 computers, printer, and software consistent with scholastic support, developmental disabilities software for remedial support, and social skill development and life skills training software that has supplemented the children’s academic studies and offer them a functional study environment.
Lighthouse Ministries
Lighthouse Ministries, a shelter for homeless and at-risk children and their families, was awarded a grant for $10,000 that was used to create an indoor and outdoor play area, with games, arts and crafts supplies, and playground equipment. The children now have a place to play, learn, and bond with their peers. The remainder of the grant gave the staff and volunteers at Lighthouse the opportunity to take the children on weekend and after-school outings and participate in fun, learning experiences that their families are unable to provide for them. The children attended baseball games, music events, theme parks, and church activities.
Metropolitan Ministries
Metropolitan Ministries, a refuge for homeless families and their children, was the recipient of a $10,000 grant that provided booster seats, cribs, and bedding for the growing number of infants living in the ministry’s nursery. Funding was also used to purchase books for the library at Metropolitan Ministries’ Academy, a school for children of resident families. The academy requested classical literature, fiction, biographies, and informative texts, in a addition to their selection of donated books, that will be used to complement their academic studies in the classroom. Educators at Metropolitan Ministries believe that reading is the key to learning, and learning to love reading is an extraordinary gift to give a child. Reading will give disadvantaged children the opportunity to expand on their English skills and inspire their imagination and creativity.
MOSI-Museum of Science and Industry
Through a $10,000 grant, MOSI created a scholarship fund for their summer science camp for those children who would otherwise not be able to participate due to financial circumstances. The program allowed 35-40 Hillsborough County students from low-income families, grades kindergarten through 8th, to receive full scholarships to attend a weeklong, full day science camp experience. MOSI science camps promote learning through fun, creative discovery, invention, and minds-on interactive activities. Camp programming and activities are designed to make science a real life adventure for young people. Certified teachers and experienced science and technology educators guided students through unique science experiences with a goal of enriching their love of exploration and improving their critical thinking and problem solving skills.
OASIS Network of New Tampa
OASIS Network is an organization that collects and distributes donated clothing and personal items to underserved children in the Hillsborough County School District. In addition to their selection of donated clothing, with a $10,000 grant, OASIS Network was able to purchase new shoes, socks, and underwear for students of low-income families. With the help of OASIS, these students are better prepared to participate successfully in their education.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay
Ronald McDonald House Charities received a $10,000 grant that was used to partially fund the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a mobile health care program that provides access to quality health care for underserved children in the Tampa Bay community. The care mobile program includes free medical and dental screening. Additionally, the program strives to identify, treat, and refer children with chronic or untreated health conditions, improve health outcomes, provide continuity of care, educate children and families about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as well as screening and enrolling families in eligible insurance programs. Currently, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, in conjunction with the University Of South Florida Department of Pediatrics, served economically disadvantaged students at 23 high schools, 44 middle schools, and 133 elementary schools.
The Children’s Home
The Children’s Home was the recipient of a $10,000 grant that funded their Summer Enrichment Program for the 80 boys and girls, ages 5-18, living at their home. The Summer Enrichment Program, an integral part of the residential treatment at the Children’s Home, is a three-day camp experience held at Camp Good Counsel in Citrus County. The camp activities were created to build self-esteem and confidence that will ultimately support healthy growth and development. The camping experience gives the children at the Children’s Home the opportunity to participate in active learning and character-building activities in a fun, informal setting. Programming combines fishing, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, baseball, archery, hiking, jewelry making, scrapbooks, painting, campfires, songs and skits, team building activities, and expressive art classes. The Summer Enrichment program develops interest in learning and creativity, promotes motivation and dignity, encourages positive self-expression, and provides the opportunity to form positive, meaningful relationships among peers.
The Salvation Army
A grant of $10,000 was awarded to the Salvation Army for educational travel and activities for the children residing with them. Travel is a valuable learning experience that most foster care children will never have. The staff at Salvation Army believes that travel expands a child’s horizons. They wanted to give the children in their care the opportunity to realize that there is a whole world for them to discover, explore, and experience if they have the strength and determination to become successful, self-sufficient young adults. Children at both their temporary care shelter and foster homes were able to travel to Washington D.C. to see national monuments, the White House, Congress in session, and the Smithsonian Institute. They experienced local attractions, the historic city of St. Augustine and the capital in Tallahassee.
[ BACK TO TOP ]
|
Alpha House of TampaBig Brothers
Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay
Charity Navigator
Computer Mentors Group
Covenant House Florida
Florida Baptist Children’s Homes
God’s Pedal Power Ministry
Hope Children’s Home
Joshua House
Lighthouse Ministries
Metropolitan Ministries
MOSI-Museum of Science and Industry
OASIS Network of New Tampa
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay
The Children’s Home
The Salvation Army
|
