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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, Cypress Gardens, and the Lowry Park Zoo 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 Clubs offer children of economically disadvantaged working families safe, fun, and developmentally appropriate after-school programs. With a $10,000 grant, young people were offered a comprehensive youth development program including homework assistance and technology training. The program offers informative lessons on making safe, positive life choices, developing leadership skills, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with sports, fitness, and recreation activities. Arts programs allow students to participate in fine arts, photography, music, dance, and drama. Students are able to develop interests in a variety of subject areas and positive forms of expression. Teens learn responsible decision-making, conflict resolution, goal-setting, and rejecting drug and alcohol use. The after-school programs at the Boys and Girls Clubs inspire children to uphold positive attitudes and values that will enable them to succeed through adolescence and on into adulthood.
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 100 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 was the recipient of a $10,000 grant that created the Youth Enrichment Services Program that will benefit 1,000 runaway and homeless children and teens, including mothers and their babies. The program will allow youth residing at Covenant House’s emergency crisis shelter the opportunity to participate in activities and events that include monthly field trips to cultural, scientific, and natural environments and, also, monthly cultural enrichment performances. Each of the activities corresponds to their school readings, providing an experience that clarifies and illustrates the subjects they study while increasing cultural awareness and social competence.
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 trip to Lake Yale campground has allowed a girl's group 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.
Florida United Methodist Children’s Home
The Florida United Methodist Children’s Home received an $11,500 grant; $6,601 was used to cover expenses for after-school activities for resident and foster children who otherwise could not afford to participate. Children are involved in a structured learning environment that promotes the healthy development of interests and social skills. Many have chosen to be involved in sports, arts, music, or drama classes, healthy academy courses, science projects, and field trips to MOSI, the Orlando Science Center, or Sea World. The remaining funds allowed girls group, eighth through twelfth grade, to experience a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in western Virginia. The 9 day trip offered the girls team-building exercises that encouraged healthy peer relationships and a sense of accomplishment. Those who participated were rewarded for meeting their treatment and program goals, actively participating in campus life, and were recommended by their house parents, therapists, and education coordinator. The girls took part in a powerful experience that challenged them physically, mentally, and spiritually.
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 237 underserved children in the Hillsborough County Foster Parent system.
Hope Children’s Home
Hope Children’s Home received a $10,000 grant to remove and replace roofing over the girl’s dormitory that had been leaking into their living space. The removal of the old roof was critical for Hope in order to continue providing a safe, clean home where the growing number of children in their care can live, study, and play.
Joshua House
With the help of a $10,000 grant, Joshua House created a collaborative educational tutoring program for their young residential students in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Education, the University of South Florida College of Education. USF pre-service teachers implemented practicum hours of tutoring to approximately 150 of Joshua House’s special needs children, ages 5-12. Funding was used to purchase 20 Apple MacBook laptop computers as a teaching tool for 12-20 interns. With an increased access to technology and private instruction, the children have demonstrated significant improvement both academically and socially that essential for success.
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 their KIDCARE Kid’s Technology Center. The technology center provides an optimal learning environment where children can learn, play, explore, and channel their creativity with interactive activities. Funds purchased computers, printers, Kidview Learning software, and computer desks with chairs in the lab area. The center also includes a music corner with music composition software, CD creator, and Karaoke system; a digital photography center with photo printers and digital cameras, and an audio/visual station that includes Plug-N-Play interactive games, educational videos, and DVD/VHS player.
Metropolitan Ministries
The Academy at Metropolitan Ministries was awarded a $10,000 grant to purchase The Harcourt Science Series that allowed their teaching staff to implement up-to-date educational resources for their resident students. The series comes complete with fundamental teaching resources including teacher’s manuals, handbook transparencies, and lesson planning books. The children had access to Harcourt’s picture cards, activity cards, practice books, workbooks, texts on tape, and CD ROM that supplemented their coursework and proved to be a valuable asset to their educational experience. A smaller portion of funding was used to purchase 20 additional high chairs for the babies of mothers residing in their emergency shelter.
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 expand operations for 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. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, in conjunction with the University Of South Florida Department of Pediatrics, served economically disadvantaged students across the Tampa Bay area.
The Children’s Home
The children at The Children’s Home took part in holiday activities with a $10,000 grant. The fall carnival gave children the chance to play games, jump in the ‘moonwalk’, take pony rides, have their faces painted, and enjoy animals in the petting zoo. The children had a day of fun that created lasting memories with their peers and counselors. In October, the children celebrated with a Halloween party with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers players who volunteered to spend the day visiting with the children while they carved pumpkins and made their own trick-or-treat bags. During the Thanksgiving holiday, the children participated in a friendly football game and enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner with staff and friends. The Children’s Home held their first holiday pageant where children proudly showed off their talents with musical, instrumental selections, and poetry recitations to an audience of dedicated staff and volunteers.
The Salvation Army
A grant of $10,000 was awarded to the Salvation Army for educational field trips and activities for their resident and foster care children. The children visited the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, Museum of Fine Arts, the Salvador Dali Museum, Lithia Springs County Park, and took a dolphin cruise. Children at Salvation Army were given the opportunity to gain rewarding experiences, to explore and discover new things that give way to a broader social and cultural awareness.
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Alpha House of Tampa
Big 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
Florida United Methodist 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
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