Total Grants $134,250

1. Augusta University College of Education: Art Play Studio–Center for Innovation and Community Engagement. $18,050. This is an education and therapeutic art program dedicated to the children receiving medical care of the August University Children’s Hospital of Georgia. Art sessions are offered to children and their families in hospital playrooms, waiting areas, or at bedside. Research shows that such programs reduce stress and negative emotions and increase positive emotions and social identity beyond focus on their illnesses.
2. Augusta University Literacy Center: for S.A.I.L.I.N.G. Sailing, Arts, Interests, Literacy, Innovation, Nature, and Girls.$11,300. This project will provide a free, innovative and fun literacy program combining post-baccalaureate training for gifted teachers with 16 weeks of customized tutoring culminating in a six day camp for girls ages 8-13. It will launch summer 2017 at AU’s Summerville campus and the Augusta Sailing Club. It targets girls with ADHA, Autism, and dyslexia.
3. Augusta Heritage Academy: The Dyslexia Outreach Program. $21,400. This provides free testing and tutoring for children in grades K-8 and is open to students from all CSRA schools. Volunteer tutors are overseen by licensed practitioners.
4. Augusta Locally Grown: Blueberries for Ms. Willie. $5000. This project focusses on proving mentorship, companionship, and education for senior women on how to grow, prepare and enjoy fruits and vegetables for themselves and their families with classes and volunteer events. Each resident can receive up to four beds the first year along with organic filler soil, seasonal seedlings and gardening tools.
5. Augusta Technical College Foundation: Special Populations Lending Library. $5000. This grant pays for textbooks that are made available on loan to female students from the Special Populations Library. Books are allocated based on financial need or extraordinary circumstances. The books return to the library at the end of the semester for use again.
6. Boys and Girls Clubs of the CSRA: Code Like a Girl. $5000. This project is an extension of the SMART Girls program which addresses the dearth of women in technical career fields. It introduces middle school girls to basic computing and coding and career information technology.
7. Harrisburg Family Health Care, Inc: Continuity of Care and Well Woman Exams. $50,000. This grant will help offset a cut in funding and will help fund a Registered Nurse Practitioner to provide continuity of care for female patient visits in the Harrisburg neighorhood.
8. Immaculate Conception Catholic School: R.I.S.E. Real Independence for Special Education Students. $12,000. This innovative program seeks to teach special education students sustainable life skills essential for transitioning from school to adult independence. This year-long, hands-on program uses basic principles of math, writing, and reading by students participating in simulations that cover topics such as home and community safety, planning and preparing meals, time and money management, telephone use, cleaning and care of the home and clothes, and applying for and working at a job. Students will work with local business partners to learn jobs skills and will develop and run a business at the school that allows them to create a sustainable product.
9. Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care Music Therapy for Memories Program. $4000. In this program, Alzheimer’s and dementia day clients will use iPods, speakers, headphones, and specialized song lists to help ease stress, improve communication and ultimately create positive changes in moods and emotional states by using cherished songs from their pasts.
10. Walton Foundation for Independence: Walton Weekend Family Camp. $2500. This program provides a free, weekend camp for children with physical disabilities, ages 6-18, and their family.