Last year (2009) Yakima Valley Community Foundation awarded more that $720,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations. Competitive grants were announced at the Grant Awards Luncheon held on National Philanthropy Day, November 10, 2009.
Also awarded that day were three grants made possible by the Helen N. Jewett Endowment for Youth Philanthropy, which were presented by members of the YVCF Youth Advisory Council.
2009 Competitive Grant Cycle
Generating Hope $18,000
Equipment for "Project Meal Time" at Noah's Ark Drop-In Center & Shelter in Wapato.
KYVE Television $24,000
Equipment and props for new a new production studio.
Nuestra Casa $14,000
"Early Childhood Enrichment" course for monolingual immigrant children and their parents.
Ready By Five $50,000
Furnishings and equipment for the "Play & Learn" room for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Wags to Riches $5,000
Pilot program to help senior citizens plan for foster care and re-homing services for their pets, when the need arises.
Wellness House $13,500
Funding for a "Client Navigator" to help patients access appropriate health care services.
White Swan Arts & Recreation Committee $45,000
Implementation of a survey inventory to assess community needs and opportunities, and funds to develop a conceptual drawing for a proposed 40-acre park in White Swan.
Yakima Valley Museum $30,000
Installation of a permanent exhibition for the Native American collection.
Homeless Youth Workgroup of Yakima County $12,000
Funds to hire a Jesuit Volunteer for one year to coordinate support services for homeless young people at Rod's House in Yakima.
Triumph Treatment Services $45,000
Funding for "take away" household supplies to help stabilize homeless families as they move from shelters back into the community.
YWCA $25,000
Support for play equipment for children in a secure courtyard in the YWCA transitional housing area for victiims of domestic violence.
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services $18,000
Furnishings and minimal accessories for six respite apartments for homeless residents when they are released from the hospital.
Building Changes $45,000
Funding for the Washington Families Fund to reduce the mumber of homeless families by one-half by 2019, focusing of permanent housing, school stability and increased employment.
Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity $10,000
Support for the purchase of a truck to transport donated items.
Kittitas Environmental Education Network $2,000
Funding for a Master Plan of a new interpretive center at Helen McCabe Park on the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway.
Helen N. Jewett Endowment
Salvation Army $5,000
Funding to replace worn-out equipment for the Summer Day Camp at Milroy Park.
Catholic Charities Housing Services $20,000
Outdoor playground equipment for children at Buena Nueva, a housing development for low-income families in Buena.
Union Gospel Mission $25,000
Support to fix up a multi-purpose athletic court adjacent to the Madison House Youth Center and for equipment to create a tennis-mentoring program for inner-city kids.