BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Four finalists vying for the top grant awarded by the South Central Kentucky Women’s Fund made presentations to committee members Tuesday night.
Each contestant wants to promote a new program to better the Bowling Green and Warren County communities.
In recent months, the field of eligible nonprofits has been narrowed down to a final 18, then a final eight, and finally the top four. House on the Hill, The Hive, Kids on the Block, and HOTEL, INC. each gave 10-minute presentations to Women’s Fund members detailing what programs their grants will fund. I did.
“The Women’s Fund is a collective giving circle, so basically women come together, pool their resources and membership, and we make one big impact grant. And tonight, they’re going to vote. So that’s the part they receive, and it allows them to have a voice in meeting the needs of our community,” explained Jennifer Wethington, executive director of the South Central Kentucky Community Foundation.
Grants awarded totaled $171,000, making it the largest total grant awarded in Warren County. The grand prize winner received $100,000 and second place received $51,000. Third and fourth place each received $10,000.
House on the Hill received a total of $100,000 in impact grants for its guesthouse program. Existing guesthouse program expanded to 10 transitional housing units to assist people without housing, and new emergency guesthouse program provides five transitional housing units in converted campers set up at local campgrounds I will.
“The guesthouse program accommodates nearly 1,100 people, which means 135 families don’t have to sleep in tents or jump from parking lot to parking lot in their cars. There’s a new law that says you can’t camp where you’re not supposed to, and you could get arrested. But there are families in our community who are sleeping in their cars.” Joel Hawkins, executive director of The Hill, explained.
In second place, The Hive won a $51,000 Growth Grant, a new award created this year by the Women’s Fund. With the awarded funds, The Hive will implement three new projects at its clubhouse located at US 31 W. Bypass.
The first program will focus on the empowerment of parents of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering workshops and counseling for caregivers aimed at reducing stress and improving caregiving skills. .
The second aims to create an all-female social group comprised of women with intellectual and developmental disabilities, focusing on empowerment, relationship building, and personal safety.
Third, organize future collaborations with area schools to support youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they transition from high school to adulthood.
Kids on the Block and HOTEL, INC. each received a $10,000 grant. Kids on the Block will continue its mission to combat youth opioid use through educational puppet shows and activities.
HOTEL, INC. will use this funding to continue its empowerment efforts in the Delafield neighborhood of Bowling Green, creating new opportunities for women in low-income areas.
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