This past Monday, the Kids ‘N Community Foundation Board of Directors met to review this spring’s grant applicants. It was not an easy task, as the 87 organizations who applied for nearly $1.2 million of grant requests were all very worthwhile organizations that have a great vision for youth in our community.

Katharine Kelley

This spring's grant cycle marked the most money ever requested of the Foundation. Fortunately, thanks to the generous support of our fans, the Kids ‘N Community Foundation was able to counter the demand and award the most grant funds ever in a single giving cycle.

The Foundation allocated $304,000 in cash grants to 44 non-profit children’s organizations. Eleven of the 44 grant recipients were new organizations, including the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, the Scotland County Education Foundation and A Child’s Place of Charlotte. All of the selected organizations, new or returning, provide much-needed programming to support the health, education and/or underserved population of children and their families in our community.

The ability to provide much-needed funding is contingent upon the generosity of our fans, corporate partners, team and community partners at Kids ‘N Community Foundation events and auctions throughout the year. If you contributed in any way (no matter how much) to any of the fundraisers and events listed below – I’m hoping I remember each of them – during this season, you have allowed many children and their families opportunities they would not otherwise have.

• Auctions during every home game and through the NHL Online Auction site
• Annual Fundraisers: We Love the Hurricanes Luncheon, the annual Foundation golf tournament, Skate with the Canes and Casino Night and Wine Tasting
• One of our monthly in-game fundraisers: holiday themed mystery pucks or Valentine’s Day mystery t-shirt sale
• NHL All-Star Banner Sale
• NHL All-Star 5K
• Cool Bars raffles
• Carolina Ale House paper and magnet hearts campaign
• General in-kind donations

Your contributions and participation in these fundraising initiatives allowed the Kids ‘N Community Foundation to donate $539,771 to 71 different children’s charities this season, which is the second-highest donation total in the Foundation's history. This cycle also established a new record for number of charities assisted in any given season. Here is a link to all of the organizations we funded this spring.

I’ve provided a few anecdotes that outline exactly what your contributions are supporting this spring. It is a goal of our department this summer to keep you well informed about where your money is going. We already have on-site visits lined up, and we will provide full reports from each grant recipient we visit. 

• NC Symphony Young Strings of the Triangle: The grant funds will assist 18 disadvantaged students aged 8-18 to study free of charge from talented string teachers in a one-on-one setting. Recently, all five high school seniors in the program have committed to four-year colleges to study music or music education.
• Assistance League Triangle Area: Funds will fill backpacks full of basic essentials like new shoes, clothes, food, school supplies and toiletries for 25 elementary-school-aged kids in the Triangle area.
• Rocking Horse Ranch: Grant funds will provide 50 individual equine-assisted activities and therapy lessons for financially-needy children with physical, cognitive and psychological disabilities.
• Junior Achievement of Eastern NC: The grant is fully funding seven (~175 students) Economics for Success classroom programs at Zebulon Middle School, which serves a 56 percent economically-disadvantaged population.
• Wake Teen Medical Services: This organization received a grant to fully cover lab expenses for under/uninsured teen patients for an entire year.
• Autism Society of NC: Six children with autism spectrum disorder will be able to attend Autism Society of NC’s Camp Royall this summer thanks to the Kids ‘N Community Foundation grant they received
• YMCA of the Triangle: 185 children will be able to go to a week-long camp over the summer at either the Alexander Family YMCA or Durham Family YMCA’s Camp High Hopes.
• A Child’s Place of Charlotte: 20 homeless children in Mecklenburg County will be able to attend 2011 My Place summer camp for eight weeks during the summer.

I could continue to provide insights into each of the wonderful organizations that received funding, like Genesis Home, Haven House, Voices Together in Education or the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, but I think I would pass the acceptable blog length (I may have already done so). But, I hope that you have a glimpse into the children’s organizations that you have helped provide better opportunities for children in our community.