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Alpha House of Tampa
With a grant of $10,000, Alpha House continued support of their Parents as Teachers
program for 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 each 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 their 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 the 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 for our continued support of 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 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 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.
Remaining funds allow for summer after-school activities, a fall festival and Halloween
event, and an end-of-the-year holiday match party with each child receiving a gift card
to purchase items at the top of their wish list.
Blooming Place for Kids
Through a network of social services, Blooming Place for Kids provides a residential
summer camp program that promotes positive values and self-esteem, encourages
teamwork and sharing, as well as individual growth and character development, paving
the way for a successful and productive future for foster care children. Blooming Place
for Kids received a $10,000 grant that will allow an additional group of children to attend
the Blooming Place summer camp intervention and prevention program designed to
exemplify positive role models and self-confidence. The program allows at-risk children
to develop healthy relationships and engage in positive learning activities that promote
social, emotional and developmental maturity and self-reliance to overcome the
adversity all foster care youth face. Blooming Place counselors measure the
effectiveness and success of the summer camp program by evaluating each child’s
individual progress in academics, personal growth, and life goals that improve the child’s
perception of their station in life and gives them the motivation they need as they move
through the next stages of their life.
Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County
The Boys and Girls Club network provides a safe, after-school learning environment for
students (ages 5-18) with specialized educational and character development programs
that enable economically disadvantaged young people to reach their full potential as
productive, caring and responsible citizens. With a $10,000 grant, the Boys and Girls Club
of St. Lucie County will expand on their newly opened education lab that provides the
equipment and tools, including computer stations, learning software and other
classroom supplies necessary for student productivity and creativity on their journey
toward academic success. The education lab will serve as a vehicle for homework
assistance, academic research, career development, college preparation and
extracurricular projects that increase literacy and critical reasoning skills.
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay
The Boys and Girls Club network provides a safe, after-school learning environment for
students (ages 5-18) with specialized educational and character development programs
that enable economically disadvantaged young people to reach their full potential as
productive, caring and responsible citizens. With a $10,000 grant, the Boys and Girls Club
of Tampa Bay’s Middle School Initiative program for qualified students in the Town N
Country and Sulphur Springs area offers struggling youth direction in navigating the
transition between middle school and high school. The program helps to provide access
to high-quality learning resources geared toward each student’s specific developmental
needs essential for academic achievement. These courses provide hands-on
experiential learning that encourages creative expression, practical skills, literacy, career
exploration and personal achievement. Additional emphasis will be placed on peer
mentoring and community enrichment. The Boys and Girls Club will work alongside
school district teaching staff to identify learning opportunities and resources to develop
theme based projects that compliment each student’s academic studies in the areas of
reading, language arts, math and science. Funding supports expenses for student
incentives, classroom supplies and educational materials.
Brookwood Florida
Brookwood Florida is a therapeutic community-based residential home for adolescent
girls ages 13-20 that have suffered from abuse, neglect, homelessness or other
disadvantaging circumstances. The Brookwood holistic program provides education,
employment preparedness, independent living skills and individual counseling in coping
with self-defeating behaviors and maintaining a stable, healthy lifestyle upon transition to
adulthood. A $10,000 grant was awarded to Brookwood to support the cost of
recreational and cultural-enrichment activities with the opportunity for at-risk girls to
discover individual interests and constructive outlets that encourage learning, creativity,
self-expression and independence. These experiences have shown to make remarkable
influence on each girl’s personal growth and development with increased cultural
awareness and practical life skills.
Caring Children Clothing Children
Caring Children Clothing Children is an organization that collects and distributes gently
used clothing, new shoes, socks, underwear and educational materials to children of
socio-economically disadvantaged families in Martin County. In addition, they offer
younger, at-risk children individual tutoring and interactive learning activities that
enhance literacy and cognitive skills in areas such as reading comprehension,
communication and object recognition. Caring Children Clothing Children received a
grant of $10,000 to support costs for 2,500 pairs of socks, 2,500 pairs of underwear and 300
shoes that meets the basic needs for children of low-income families and allows them the
opportunity to focus on their education and their personal growth. Remaining funds
support educational materials for the literacy-tutoring program conducted by a
volunteer staff that includes Phonics Reading Program Sets and classroom supplies.
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator serves as an evaluator of charities and an intelligent guide to
philanthropic giving and investment by analyzing data that reflects financial health,
transparency and accountability of charities. Charity Navigator successfully provides
information as to the effectiveness and efficiency in operational sustainability and
utilization of funding dollars of charitable organizations across America. They received a
grant of $10,000 that will be used for expenses associated with the analysis of 25
additional charities whose missions are in line with the charitable focus of the Hobbs
Foundation. Costs include obtaining financial data from the IRS and communicating
with charities for additional research as well as maintaining and developing the charity
evaluator database and website.
Computer Mentors Group
Computer Mentors Group provides computer technology skills training and information
access to students of low-income families necessary for successful academic
achievement and employment preparedness. The Computer Mentors program
examines hardware and software competencies, component identification and
functions, word and spreadsheet processing and Internet search functions. With a
$10,000 grant, Computer Mentors Group will expand their Youth Computer Certification
& Ownership Incentives Program that offers IC3 Certification training for basic computer
skills in the areas of computing fundamentals; computing terminology, hardware
functions, software types and operating systems; key applications; word processing and
spreadsheet processing; living online; Internet search, electronic mail and e-commerce.
Funds will provide incentives and additional resources to students who successfully
complete the program in support of their participation in continuing computer skills
education. These incentives include Internet service, upgraded computer hardware and
local educational field trips.
Covenant House Florida
Covenant House Florida is a private social services agency providing long-term and
emergency care shelter for runaway and homeless at-risk youth under the age of 21
including teen parents and their babies. Covenant House services include mental health
counseling, case management, healthcare, substance abuse prevention, teen
parenting education, academic tutoring, job readiness training and transitional housing.
Covenant House was the recipient of a $10,000 grant that will support the Youth
Enrichment Services Program that offers the opportunity for resident and emergency
care youth to participate in cultural education, activities and events, field trips and arts
performances. Activities include outings to science and natural environment education
centers, visual and performing arts events and other cultural demonstrations that
increase socio-cultural awareness, cognitive development and academic performance.
Florida Baptist Children’s Home
Florida Baptist Children’s Home is a faith-based residential and emergency care facility
for abused, neglected and abandoned children with additional services including teen
pregnancy care, family crisis prevention, foster care and adoption placement. With a
$10,000 grant, the Florida Baptist Children’s Home will introduce their Youth on a Mission
program that offers foster care children the opportunity to participate in rescue mission
and community service efforts serving underprivileged families and their children. The
program offers the children the valuable experience of giving selflessly to others and
interacting with those from a variety of diverse cultural backgrounds and life experience.
This program provides children with opportunities to start with small accomplishments that
build on their self-confidence and engage in constructive, character building projects
with meaningful impact.
Florida United Methodist Children’s Home
Florida United Methodist Children’s Home provides residential care, independent living
services, foster care placement and adoption for abused, neglected and abandoned
children. Their home utilizes a house parent model in a residential group setting with
campus programs attending to each child's educational, recreational, health services
and therapeutic counseling needs in facilitating the development of life management
skills and emotional wellbeing that will carry them to independent living. The Florida
United Methodist Children’s Home received a $10,000 grant for The Independent Living
program that offers ongoing educational and job readiness skills training for adolescent
foster care youth in preparation for their transition to self-sufficiency. The program consists
of 5 key learning components; transitional living, life skills, mentoring, career development
(trade skills training), and graduate aftercare services. Funds will support a new culinary
course addition to the transitional living curriculum that will guide each student on
preparing meals, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing a monthly budget. This
project will enrich the Independent Living program with emphasis on managing a home
in balance with academic and occupational advancement for both emotional and
behavioral stability. Funds support costs for educational supplies and materials in
conjunction with each facet of the culinary course curriculum.
God’s Pedal Power Ministry
God's Pedal Power is an organization managed by volunteers repairing and donating
bicycles to children in need to supplement transportation costs that limit economically
disadvantaged children living in foster care from attending school regularly and
participating in after-school activities and, in turn, encourages them to take responsibility
for their academic success and future endeavors. A $10,000 grant supports the
Christmas Bike Give-Away that distributes new bicycles and helmets to foster care
children through the Hillsborough County Foster Angel program providing Christmas gifts
to foster care children of low-income families.
Grace Place for Children and Families
Grace Place for Children and Families is a faith-based neighborhood center dedicated
to providing quality educational services including literacy, language and life skill
development for at-risk children of impoverished families in the Naples area. With a
$10,000 grant, Grace Place will introduce their Music Enrichment program for elementary
and middle school students that enhances academic learning, character and self-
esteem, intellectual development, cultural awareness and arts appreciation. The
program will include weekly courses with 3 core facets including after-school music
instruction, chorale performance and summer music program. The music program seeks
to broaden each child’s understanding and appreciation of the world around them,
teach self-discipline and cooperation and promote self-expression and creativity.
Heartland for Children
Heartland for Children is a child welfare agency responsible for managing the foster care
system in Polk, Hardee and Highlands Counties, overseeing the provision of services for
abused, abandoned and neglected children including family counseling services,
adoption services, case management services and independent living care. Heartland
seeks to improve the safety, permanency and well being for disadvantaged children.
Heartland for Children was awarded a $10,000 grant for their Foster Family Appreciation
program that will hold luncheons, celebrations and achievement recognition events for
foster care children and their families with fun-filled field trips and activities including a
day at local theme parks (Busch Gardens, LegoLand, SeaWorld and Universal) and the
opportunity for foster parents, children and their often separated siblings to nurture their
relationship and spend quality time enjoying each other in shared experiences that
would otherwise be unaffordable.
Hope Children’s Home
Hope Children's Home is a faith-based private organization providing residential care
and private Christian education to abused, neglected and abandoned children and
acts as an advocate on behalf of each child's developmental, emotional and spiritual
needs, molding them into happy, education and functioning Christian members of
society. Hope Children’s Home live in a family atmosphere with dedicated house parents
who work to provide a structured, stable home environment that instills guidance and
encouragement for each child. Hope Children’s Home received a $10,000 grant that will
support an immediate need of furnishings for a portion of 5 new cottages intended to
house 7-12 additional children in need of home that accommodates an increasing
number of sibling groups. The children’s cottages will be prepared with beds, bedding,
dressers, seating, dining sets, window coverings and closet systems.
Joshua House
Joshua House serves as a therapeutic, residential care facility and a safe, permanent
home for abused, neglected and abandoned children and offers them a stable and
nurturing family-like environment during their time of recovery and personal growth.
Programs at Joshua House address the needs of underserved children in the areas of life
skills training, counseling, education and transitional support services. Joshua House
received a $10,000 grant to fund The After-school Activities program that will provide
funding for meaningful educational and character building experiences during the
weekly after-school hours and summer months including sports leagues, art and dance
lessons, prom and homecoming dances, vocational training courses, cooking classes,
community service projects and holiday parties. Participation in engaging, constructive
skill building activities contributes to the overall health and emotional wellbeing and a
sense of personal achievement and independence. Funding supports costs that include
transportation expenses, admission fees, uniforms, equipment and supplies.
Liberty Youth Ranch
Liberty Youth Ranch is a faith-based organization that provides a permanent, safe home-
like environment for abused, neglected and abandoned children that promotes the
uniqueness, dignity and inherent worth of every child and the opportunity to reach their
full potential. The staff at Liberty Youth Ranch works to serve the spiritual, academic, and
individual needs of underserved children and ensures that they receive a quality
education, develop appropriate social skills and self-esteem and receive both individual
and group counseling. Liberty Youth Ranch received a grant of $10,000 to support their
Tutoring and Enrichment Activities program that will provide children with the tools
necessary to ensure academic achievement and bridge the gap of educational
deficiency that plagues economically disadvantaged children. After-school activities
offer the children an outlet encouraging teamwork, confidence building, commitment
and a disciplined work ethic for real-world applications. Funding supports costs for
tutoring services fees, field trip admission fees, and transportation expenses.
Lighthouse Ministries
Lighthouse Ministries is an organization that serves as a faith-based residential transitional
facility to aid victims of domestic abuse, homelessness and destructive lifestyles through
programs that offer families and their children direction, encouragement and stability in
support of the development of positive life management skills and personal responsibility
for success. Lighthouse Ministries was awarded a $10,000 grant for the KIDCARE program
providing comprehensive childcare services and activities for children of homeless and
disadvantaged families both residing in the shelter and in surrounding communities.
Funding provides educational and recreational equipment that facilitates relational,
physical and cognitive development including playground equipment, rubberized safety
base and installation.
Metropolitan Ministries
Metropolitan Ministries is a faith-based community organization serving homeless families
and their children through programs that alleviate suffering, promote dignity and
encourage self-sufficiency. Metropolitan Ministries provides temporary shelter, food,
clothing, education and counseling services. The PromiseLand Childcare Center and
Partnership School provides education and social development opportunities for resident
children with small class sizes and a targeted development plan for each child's
individual needs. Metropolitan Ministries received a $10,000 grant for the PromiseLand
program for pre school age at-risk children addressing age appropriate education with a
high quality individualized program offering an interactive learning environment and a
commitment to both the academic achievement and health and wellness of each
child. Funding provides educational tools and equipment and age-appropriate toys to
supplement the pre-school curriculum such as building blocks, puzzles, learning CDs,
cognitive activity cards, etc.
MOSI – Museum of Science and Industry
MOSI is a community-based educational institution dedicated to advancing public
interest, knowledge and understanding of science, industry and technology with
innovative exhibitions and interactive experiences to engage diverse audiences.
Though a $10,000 grant, MOSI will continue their Summer Science Camp Program offers a
variety of hands-on learning courses that promote creative discovery, invention and
critical thinking skills. Camp programming and activities are designed to make science a
real life adventure for deserving students. Certified teachers and experienced educators
guide students through unique learning experiences that enrich their love of exploration
and increasing critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Neat Stuff
Neat Stuff is an organization that distributes new clothing, school uniforms, shoes, socks,
toys and backpacks to abused, neglected, homeless and at-risk children in the South
Florida area. Neat Stuff strives to fill the gaps that separate underserved children from
those living in healthy, stable households and inspire a sense of self-worth, dignity and
pride to overcome their struggles. Neat Stuff was awarded a $10,000 grant that funds
the distribution of school uniforms to economically disadvantaged students that aims to
increase these students' opportunity for academic achievement and self-esteem by
eliminating the financial burden that may prevent their ability to attend school regularly,
receive a quality education and prepare for successful, independent living. Funding will
provide a one-week supply of school uniforms including 5 white polo tops, 3 khaki pants,
5 sets of underwear and 5 pairs of socks and a backpack.
OASIS Network of Tampa Bay
OASIS (Outreach Assisting Students In Schools) Network of Tampa Bay
Is an organization that collects and distributes donated clothing and personal items to
low-income public school students in Hillsborough County by way of social workers
referrals and recommendations in order to meet the basic needs of at-risk students and
limit the hardships that may hinder academic success and healthy development.
Donated items are acquired through partnerships with local YMCA's, schools, churches
and Publix stores. A $10,000 grant will provide school uniforms, new socks and underwear
to economically disadvantaged students in Hillsborough County that allows them to
minimize barriers to learning, prospering and being fully engaged in the pursuit of their
education.
Place of Hope
Place of Hope is a faith-based child welfare agency that provides both emergency and
long-term family style foster care, family outreach and intervention services, transitional
housing support services, and a stable, nurturing home environment to abused,
neglected and abandoned children in Palm Beach County and surrounding areas.
Place of Hope implements a model approach and commitment to the care of
underserved children with encouragement of healthy and productive growth and
development. With professional counseling and case management services, they strive
to meet each child's emotional, social and educational needs with positive role
modeling and consistent care. With a $10,000 grant, Place of Hope will provide the
proper clothing for entering foster care children who have often been removed from
their home with no personal belongings. Place of Hope strives to meet the needs of their
growing number of children in order to provide them with a safe, permanent and
nurturing environment for healthy growth and development.
Real Life Children’s Ranch
Real Life Children's Ranch is a faith-based residential care facility for abused, neglected
and abandoned children, providing each child with a family atmosphere and nurturing
home environment that is conducive to a fulfilling and productive future. The ranch
strives to teach children the richness of a well-rounded life and the consistency that
emulates a healthy, family life. A $10,000 grant supports a valuable expansion to their
Equestrian program that encourages nurturance, responsibility and adherence to a daily
schedule and disciplined work ethic. This program instills a sense of purpose that has a
healing affect on troubled children and a bonding relationship with their animals that
inspires trust and increases self-esteem.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay
Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay provides a home-away-from-home for families
with children receiving medical treatment in bay area hospitals and allows them to stay
in close proximity to provide comfort and care to their child. Ronald McDonald's Care
Mobile Program, in partnership with the University of South Florida Department of
Pediatrics, houses patient examination rooms, lab and medical records area designed to
deliver health and dental care to underserved children. They received a $10,000 grant
that will be used to continue the growing operations of the Care Mobile Program to
economically disadvantaged students in Hillsborough County. Care Mobile strives to
identify, treat and refer children with chronic or untreated health conditions, improve
health outcomes, provide continuity of care and educate children and families about
maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Information assistance with screening and enrollment in
insurance programs is also available.
The Children’s Home
The Children's Home is a faith-based child and family-centered residential home that
provides a safe haven for children who have suffered abuse, neglect or abandonment
and seeks to create a home-like community that provides a source of strength and
stability for disadvantaged children. The Children's Home addresses the needs of
children who have experienced chronic trauma, negative social behaviors and self-
esteem issues and works to help children develop coping skills and build healthy
relationships and a healthy quality of life. The Children’s Home was awarded a $10,000
grant that supports the Youth Enterprise Society program that will address employment
readiness development and sustainability for adolescent foster care youth at the
Children's Home with a focus on financial literacy, career exploration, interpersonal
communication skills and independent life management. With the acquisition of self-
sufficiency and professional skills, students will have the opportunity for gainful
employment and minimize the risk of a life of poverty, crime and abuse and expose them
to a life filled with meaning and purpose. The program is a year-long, 3 tiered model for
two groups of teens that explores employment skills in the areas of administration,
graphic design, machine repair, culinary arts, event planning, agriculture, landscaping,
resource development, and woodworking. Funding supports training materials and
supplies, student stipends and field trip transportation.
The Haven
The Haven is a residential group facility for boys ages 9-17 that is dedicated to providing
a safe, loving and stable environment that fosters the development of self-esteem and
independence that empowers each child to reach his full potential. The Haven offers
academic one-on-one tutoring designed to monitor academic progress and create a
passion for learning, establish coping and behavior management skills and identify
career opportunities and life management skills towards independent living. The Haven
received a $10,000 grant in support of their Early Essentials for Work Readiness program
that offers intensive job training experiences for adolescent boys that teaches the value
of hard work and its benefits, preparing young men for the responsibility of securing
employment and achieving independent living. Participants become involved in career
exploration, strategic planning, financial management, interpersonal communication
skills, work ethic, time management, problem-solving, interview skills and the importance
of appearance and professionalism in moving toward the steps to employment. As each
course’s goals is successfully demonstrated, students receive stipends they can
contribute to a savings account to be utilized upon transition to independent living.
The Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay
The Heart Gallery is an organization that manages adoption services and enables
children living in foster care to realize the dream of finding a permanent, loving family
while raising awareness and education about children in need of a stable, nurturing
home. The Heart Gallery Exhibit brings the community closer to the faces and voices of
foster children with photography and information on each child in search of a family.
The Heart Gallery received a grant of $10,000 to fund a Video Recruitment Project that
gives teens the opportunity to play a role in their own recruitment and a personally
connected vehicle for reaching potential adoptive parents which is made available
online, at exhibits and through care managers. Each child has the opportunity to share
their thoughts, wishes and hopes and develop a personal relationship with potential
families and provides insight to each child's personal needs and desires.
The Salvation Army, St. Petersburg
The Salvation Army is an organization that includes a diverse team of community
volunteers, officers and staff who are passionately committed to meeting the urgent
needs of disadvantaged persons in their community, encouraging salvation and offering
hope, dignity and the opportunity for self reliance. Salvation Army’s core services
include a children's services program that provides residential and emergency care to
abused, neglected and abandoned children. A grant of $10,000 was awarded to the
Salvation Army to support the Enrichment Experiences program that provides foster care
children to experience the learning opportunities and exposure to positive cultural and
social influences that lead to a greater sense of perspective, purpose and self-esteem.
These valuable experiences increase the critical thinking and problem solving skills
necessary for academic capability and performance. These include parks, zoos, movies,
museums, etc. Remaining funds will support the Tutoring Services program that cover
after-school tutoring fees to assess each child's individual needs and develop strategic
goals for improving academic performance.
Youth Haven
Youth Haven is a private organization providing residential and emergency shelter care
to abused and neglected children and social support services including parenting
education, child and substance abuse prevention and homeless and crisis intervention
to at-risk families for Collier County. Individual and group counseling is offered through
their Child and Family Counseling Center with a comprehensive continuum of care.
Youth Haven strives to provide children of abuse a safe and caring home environment,
inspiration and guidance as they grow and develop. A $10,000 grant was awarded to
Youth Haven that will fund arts and crafts supplies in support of their art therapy activities
for residential foster care children with a volunteer therapist. Remaining funds provide
equipment for after-school sports and recreational activities as well as birthday gifts and
cake in recognition of each child's birthday.
[ BACK TO TOP ] |
Alpha House of Tampa
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
Blooming Place for Kids
Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County
Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay
Brookwood Florida
Caring Children Clothing Children
Charity Navigator
Computer Mentors Group
Covenant House Florida
Florida Baptist Children’s Home
Florida United Methodist Children’s Home
God’s Pedal Power Ministry
Grace Place for Children and Families
Heartland for Children
Hope Children’s Home
Joshua House
Liberty Youth Ranch
Lighthouse Ministries
Metropolitan Ministries
MOSI-Museum of Science and Industry
Neat Stuff
OASIS Network of Tampa Bay
Place of Hope
Real Life Children’s Ranch
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay
The Children’s Home
The Haven
The Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay
The Salvation Army, St. Petersburg
Youth Haven
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