Helping new nonprofits build a better world for all

2002 - Awards and Accomplishments 

Fair Chance Wins First SVCF Grant in DC

September 23, 2002 -- Fair Chance and Evening Star Learning Center Project Honored:  The Social Venture Capital Foundation today awarded a $3,000 seed money grant to Fair Chance, a fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, for organizational start up expenses and for Fair Chance's Evening Star Learning Center project.  

"This grant reflects the Board's confidence in the mission and vision of Fair Chance DC and in the extraordinary and determined leadership of Amanda Taylor Marshall, Fair Chance's founder and Executive Director," according to Jeff Schwartz, President of The Social Venture Capital Foundation.  "By making this grant, the Board is recognizing the importance of Fair Chance's goal: ensuring a fair chance for every child in the District of Columbia, particularly for the children of Southeast."  

The SVCF seed grant is aimed partly at providing start up funding for Fair Chance.  Its principal purpose is also to help Fair Chance DC start up its Evening Star Learning Center project at Davis Elementary in the Benning Heights section of DC.  Led by two very strong and admirable DC public school teachers, Kristen McKay and Erica Joseph Jones, the Evening Star Learning project seeks to establish an after-school program "designed to provide intervention to students in grades K-5 who need additional help in reading and math, but are not eligible to receive special education services in school."  For more information on Fair Chance and the Evening Star Learning Center, go to: www.fairchancedc.org.

* * *

Supplemental Seed Grant Goes to Florida Group: All For Youth (AFY)

September 1, 2002 -- AFY's Progress Recognized:  The Social Venture Capital Foundation today announced that All For Youth, Inc., a Florida youth services agency, has been awarded a $2,500 supplemental seed grant in recognition of its progress over the last six months.  In March 2002, AFY received an SVCF seed grant to pay for start up expenses associated with its Indiantown Educational Center for students suspended or expelled from area public schools.  In awarding this supplemental seed grant, the SVCF Board noted that in the last six months, AFY has --

• achieved the necessary approvals and registrations to solicit funds for the project, 

• begun building a dedicated, community-based Board

• developed an explicit fundraising, communications, and outreach strategy, 

• received a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and 

• secured the contribution of space and utility costs from Indiantown Nonprofit Housing, Inc. for operation of the Center.

"While much remains to be accomplished," the SVCF Board noted, "Seretha George's untiring leadership has given us further confidence in All for Youth's determination and ability to get this much needed project off the ground.  With this remarkable demonstration of progress in a short period of time, we are prepared to provide further support for the next phase of All For Youth's work."

* * *

ZEE, Inc. Receives $10,000 Supplemental Seed Grant

April 30, 2002 -- Supplemental Seed Grant for 3E Center:  The Social Venture Capital Foundation today awarded a $10,000 supplemental seed grant to Zuni Entrepreneurial Enterprises, Inc., Zuni, NM, to support development of the Electronic Enterprise Empowerment [3E] Center.  Noting the progress that ZEE, Inc. has made with the initial seed grant, the Board of SVCF determined that further support of this worthy effort was warranted.  In the four months since the initial seed grant, ZEE, Inc., with the assistance of SVCF, has: assembled a diverse and knowledgeable expert project Advisory Board; enlisted the support of Technology Ventures of Albuquerque and Senator Domenici's Rural Payday initiative; elicited bids for extension of necessary T1 lines from Gallup to the reservation; identified assistive technology that could be used by persons with disabilities to perform necessary data entry tasks; and begun searching for commercial partners and foundation and governmental funding sources.  In addition, the Board noted its appreciation for ZEE, Inc's consulting assistance to Phoenix Gate, Inc.  another SVCF grantee in setting up its grocery store venture for enterprise and employment training for former prisoners in Hartshorne, OK. (See February 6, 2002 notice on seed grant to Phoenix Gate below.)

* * *  

Art for a Child's Safe America Foundation Awarded Enterprise Planning Grant

April 30, 2002 -- ArtSafe Grant Supports Enterprise Strategic Planning:  Art for a Child's Safe America Foundation (ArtSafe) today received a $3,750 planning grant for development of an enterprise strategic plan, as part of its larger strategic planning effort.  ArtSafe is a Columbus, Ohio, arts and education foundation, devoted to prevention of violence against and by children and young people.  Its striking "Memorial to our Lost Children" has won numerous awards and been exhibited in schools, churches, recreation centers, and prisons throughout Ohio.  

In addition, ArtSafe, in conjunction with Ohio Department of Corrections, operates art therapy classes in a number of prisons and reformatories in Ohio.  Out of this work, ArtSafe has developed a valuable teaching tool, a book called "Unlived Lives."  This book collects the stories and art from the lives of prisoners to give young people a first-hand view of the personal consequences and anguish of resorting to violence and crime.  This material brings home the lesson that the perpetrators of violence as well as the victims essentially lose their lives.  ArtSafe also promotes speeches from prisoners and former prisoners to school children on "Lessons Learned from Unlived Lives." 

In making the grant, the SVCF Board praised Stephen Canneto, ArtSafe's Executive Director and an internationally renown artist, for his vision, leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and heartfelt commitment to the children and youth of Ohio.  The Board also commended Canneto and his staff for strategic planning efforts to strengthen the organization's capacity and develop entrepreneurial means to ensure sustainability and growth of ArtSafe's good works.  SVCF anticipates that ArtSafe materials and programs can be of value in a number of settings, including Second Hand Schools, such as All for Youth's planned school in Indiantown, FL (see below).

* * *

SVCF Awards Seed Grant to All For Youth for Florida Second Chance School

March 4, 2002 -- Seed Grant for Indiantown Educational Center:  The Social Venture Capital Foundation today announced award of a $2500 seed money grant to All For Youth to establish a second chance school for middle school and high school young people who live in the Indiantown area and who are suspended or expelled from school.  Besides assisting in the planning for the school, the seed grant funds are intended to assist All For Youth defray certain organizational start up expenses.  The grant is accompanied by a commitment of management counsel and support, including assistance in recruitment of pro bono (free) legal assistance for the new organization.

All For Youth's Chief Executive Officer, Seretha George, indicated that the Indiantown Educational Center will be modeled in part on the Project Rock school established by Minister Patricia Brown for the Fort Pierce, FL area.  The Indiantown Center will provide these young people with a structured system of adult supervision and a program of experiential group learning and one-on-one mentoring.  The students will confront the circumstances that led to their suspension or expulsion, better understanding their decision-making processes, examine possible future paths and consequences, and explore whether return to the public school or some alternative placement would be most beneficial. 

In addition, as necessary, students will be referred for supplemental social services and counseling.  Students will be given the opportunity to participate in community building volunteer work.  They will be encouraged to change the behaviors that got them into trouble and take greater personal and community responsibility.

One of those who wrote in support of Seretha George and All For Youth explained, "Seretha George has the trust of parents and the respect of students.  Her non-traditional relationships with our youth and families is the secret to her probable success.  She has a special gift, and I believe she will help [these] youngsters change their behaviors.  Some of these youngsters will choose to become active in youth leadership program, church, [or other constructive] activities."  In short, All For Youth is committed to building a better world for all.

Congratulations, Seretha, and your colleagues and supporters at All For Youth!  We look forward to your progress in the months and years to come. Note: On April 5, 2002, All For Youth became All For Youth, Inc., that day receiving its Florida incorporation.

* * *

Phoenix Gate Wins First SVCF Grant for Prison-Community Re-entry Program

February 6, 2002 -- SVCF Announces Seed Grant to Oklahoma Community Re-entry Support Group:  Phoenix Gate, Inc., a nonprofit group founded to provide community recreation for youth, drug and alcohol abuse prevention and counseling, and prison release community re-entry support services in southeastern Oklahoma, today was awarded a $2500 seed money start up grant for its prison-to-community re-entry program by The Social Venture Capital Foundation.  The grant matches $2500 raised by community supporters for startup of this program.  SVCF salutes the leaders of Phoenix Gate (Bill Stovall, Administrator, his colleagues, and those who support them) for their vision, commitment, and determination to make southeastern Oklahoma a better place to live.

In the initial phases of the project, Phoenix Gate will focus on providing job readiness training, employment, and experience running a small business for these men and women being released from prison.  Phoenix Gate is now exploring the feasibility of starting a  discount grocery enterprise to provide real world work experience, income, and entrepreneurial opportunity for these former convicts.

The SVCF seed grant includes management and enterprise support counsel for Phoenix Gate.  As part of this support, SVCF has recruited the assistance of a McAlester, OK law firm,  to provide initial pro bono legal counseling.  We appreciate the generosity of Mr. C.D. "Buddy" Neal, a past president of the Oklahoma Bar Association, and partner of Steidley & Neal, for providing this  support.

In addition, SVCF appreciates the support of Larry Alflen, Director of Zuni Entrepreneurial Enterprises, Inc. (ZEE, Inc.), for volunteering to provide  advice and counsel to the leaders of Phoenix Gate on starting up a new food sales enterprise to serve a rural and small town area.  (ZEE, Inc. has developed a successful grocery business as part of its entrepreneurial approach to providing employment for persons with disabilities living on or near the Zuni Reservation.) This offer of consulting support from Zee, Inc. to Phoenix Gate is a great example of the power and value of the SVCF Mutual Support Network.

*  *  * 

SVCF Awards Kids on the Hill Grant for Enterprise Web Site 

January 31, 2002 -- SVCF Makes Third Grant to  Kids on the Hill:  Kids on the Hill, the Baltimore After School Neighborhood Arts Action program, today was  awarded its third grant from SVCF.  The award -- a $2,500 grant and $2,500 loan -- was made to assist Kids on the Hill in establishing an entrepreneurial web site.  [Note: As of September 1, 2002, the new web site -- describing the activities of the group and linking to a secure and consumer-friendly electronic commerce outlet for the sale of the art products developed by the Kids on the Hill arts program -- is now launched and up and running.

This is one of the key steps called for in the Mission-Related Enterprise Plan developed by Kids on the Hill with previous SVCF grant funds to enable Kids on the Hill to market its first line of products more effectively.  The loan to Kids on the Hill will be repaid out of a portion of the proceeds from sale of these products. 

[The new state of the art e-commerce web site for Kids on the Hill was developed by the Able Disabled Programming Group, LLC (ADPG, LLC), Berwick, LA.  In addition, ADPG is providing web publication services to promote the new Kids on the Hill web site through various Internet search engines.]  

* * *

• 2001 -- click here to learn more about SVCF Awards and Accomplishments in 2001.

HOME - NEXT