In June 2020, the Foundation awarded grants totaling $55,960 to 12 Kenosha County not-for-profit organizations and projects from the income earned by our Unrestricted Funds. Receiving the 2020 Unrestricted Funds grants:
Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha to support Gus the Bus transportation initiative for the 20/21 school year. Free transportation provided to elementary students who attend the club 3 or more days a week.
Carthage College to partner with Veterans Outreach Wisconsin, the Carthage Veterans storytelling project integrates theatre, playwriting, and creative writing in a series of workshops to provide healing to veterans.
ELCA Urban Outreach for enhancements to the Outreach peace/vegetable garden with meditation benches and additional raised garden beds to help with the mental health of clients.
Girl Scouts of Southeast Wisconsin to help provide transportation for Kenosha County girls to attend camp activities in Kenosha. Giving access to outdoor experiences.
Girls on the Run for a positive youth program that addresses social, emotional, mental and physical wellness for 8-13 ages.
Kenosha Achievement Center for Parent Education and Therapeutic Coaching for Kids with Special Needs program.
Kenosha YMCA for the Frank Neighborhood Project Brass and Lincoln Middle School achievers program, providing social-emotional learning, educational assistance, transportation, math, and literacy five days a week.
Shalom Center for the Shalom Home Assistance Program to help decrease the length of stay in the shelter program and help obtain permanent housing.
The Sharing Center for Rural Crisis and Resource Center-Assuring families in rural Kenosha County have access to basic needs and crisis services including hunger, chronic poverty, underemployment, affordable housing/homelessness.
Kenosha Human Development Services for the Help Up Help More-providing mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness assistance to our community.
Kenosha Literacy Council for the Community Connections-Integrated English Civics education project to increase literacy skills by providing experiential learning.
Shoreland Lutheran High School for the Heart Smarts-Educational tool to shape minds as they develop to teach about heart disease.
Focus of 2020 Grant Making from the Foundation’s Unrestricted funds
For the 2020 grant cycle, we supported projects of not-for-profit organizations that are in line with the Foundation’s mission (to enhance the present and ensure the future of the Kenosha Community), and also strongly encourage not-for-profit organizations with projects that provide services in the areas of affordable housing/homelessness, mental health or transportation apply for these grants – these are the three priority areas identified in a Community Needs Assessment survey that we conducted in collaboration with the Kenosha County UW-Extension in November/December 2019.
Additionally, for grants from the Unrestricted Funds, the Kenosha Community Foundation gives priority to
• Collaborative efforts involving two or more organizations that jointly planning and delivering projects that offer creative solutions or ideas.
• Programs and projects that use Foundation funds to leverage other funding sources.
