2009 Grants

large view Compeer "Circle of Friends" large view Memorial Art Gallery - Asian Family Day large view Operation Outreach-Hawthorne School large view Rochester Presbyterian Home large view Low to the Ground Productions large view Teen Empowerment large view Catholic Charities of Wayne County

Rochester Small Grants 
$441,230 in Grants issued
in the Greater Rochester area

Alzheimer’s Association                             $20,000
For the popular Caregivers Connect
Project that addresses the need for
personal in home services enabling
people with dementia to remain
in their homes.

American Diabetes Association
Rochester Chapter                                        $5,000
For the ADA’s Camp Aspire, a one week
residential camp at the Rotary Sunshine
Campus in Rush for 200 children with
diabetes. Campers will learn to use
observed diabetes coping skills to live
more positively with diabetes and havie
a camp experience.

Ausangate Productions                              $5,000
For the Women’s Opportunity for Work
program. This program provides
pre-employment and life skills
training to women with multiple
barriers to employment. Women are
trained at the Coffee Connection.

Baden Street Settlement of Rochester       $20,000
For the “Water Works Project”. The
project provides 100 high-risk individuals 
experiences on the water.  A minority
focused initiative aimed at promoting
rowing and fitness to under represented
ethnic groups. Activities take place at
Genesee Waterways Center.

Blue Sky Project                                                $5,000
Support for the Songs of Freedom
Project. This is a collaboration between
artists, historians, educators, and
software developers to use literacy,
video, storytelling, music and interactive
technology to enrich students learning
about the history of the underground
railroad.

Borinquen Dance Theatre                                 $5,000
For after-school dance and
self-development sessions for
at risk Latino youth in the Rochester
area. Traditional Peurto Rican dance,
costomes, and music are combined in
dance study and performance.

Cameron Community Ministries                       $5,300
To expand and lengthen the time that
the afterschool program is offered to
better match the school year. Also to
increase the student to adult ratio.

Catholic Charities of Wayne County                 $2,000
For the Community Clothing Center, an
emergency services program in Wayne
County that provides donated clothing
and household items to the needy. The
center also provides referrals to other
resources and support services.

The Children’s Agenda                                        $10,000
Funding for the Children’s Agenda 2009/
2010 work plan. Expansion and sustaining
of the Nurse Family Partnership and
Parents as Teachers programs. Both
programs involve home visitation to
vulnerable families and children.

Center for Teen Empowerment                          $10,000
Funding for TE’s Neighborhood Peace Initiative,
a neighborhood-based youth organizing project
that will employ teens ages 14-19 to organize
their peersto address violence in the Southwest
Quadrant.

The Center for Youth                                            $10,000
For continued support of the Rochester Teen Court,
an intervention and prevention program that provides
an alternative for first time youth offenders, ages 16-19.

Compeer Family Services
of Chemung County                                              $6,175
For the “Circle of Friends” project. This provides a
caring, positive one-on-one friendship in school to
children in grades K-5 who are in need and at risk. 
There is a high need for mentoring in Chemung county
due to two prisons and a State Psychiatric Center that
add to the population and contribute to risk through
their children.

Court Appointed Special Advocates                   $2,000
CASA trains and supervises volunteers to advocate
for children who have been abused and/or neglected. 
CASA is assigned a case by a Family Court Judge. 

CURE Childhood Cancer Association                   $10,000
Support for the Hematology/Oncology Educational
Liaison Program. This program assists children being
treated for cancer and blood disorders at the
Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Daystar Derby                                                         $15,000
For sponsorship of the 3rd Annual Daystar Derby.
The Derby raises funds to care for infants with
complex medical and developmental needs.

East House                                                                 $1,500
For the June 2009 East House/RIT Enrichment
Program. This Enrichment program provides clients
that are recovering from mental illness and chemical
dependency an opportunity to take part in a college
experience that encourages them to pursue education
and become self sufficient.

Eastman School of Music                                       $25,000
Support for the University of Rochester’s Eastman
Theatre Renovation and Expansion Project.  The expanded
theatre will provide enhanced performance and rehearsal space.
Construction is slated to be finished in Fall 2010.

Equicenter                                                                $10,000
Funding for the Peg Jacobson Endowment Fund.
The Equicenter provides therapeutic equistrian activities
which benefit individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth,
and their families.

Friends of the Rochester Public Market              $3,000
The Friends of the Public Market are committed to
ensuring that low income families can access fresh foods
at the market to reduce hunger and improve health. 
The start up last year was very successful, funds will
be used to continue to implement and market Electronic
Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to purchase tokens
that can be used at the market.

Garth Fagan Dance                                          $5,000
Scholarship assistance for dance students to allow
economically challenged students to attend the
Summer Movement Institute. Scholarship assistance
for 32 dance students to attend a three week intensive
dance instruction program.

Genesee Baptist Church                          $5,000
For the Balancing a Healthy Me program. This 6
week summer program open to children 5-14 years
old in the 19^th ward. The focus is on helping children
make healthier choices leading to a healthier lifestyle.

Genesee Center
for the Arts and Education                             $6,000
Support for the Urban Youth Arts Education Program. 
An after school program for inner city children ages 7-17
years old. The program provides an outlet and opportunity
to develop creative skills in ways that may not be
otherwise available.

Grantmakers Forum of NY                            $2,500
A 2-year program to deliver “Essential Skills for Grantmakers”:
a nationally developed curriculum providing upstate NY
grantmakers with skills to be more effective.

Highland Hospital                                  $7,000
Expansion of the clinic-based breast cancer outreach
program that provides services and transportation to
uninsured men and women.

Hillside Children’s Center                          $23,855
Support to improve the physical education programs for
residential students enrolled in the HCC Andrews-Trahey
School. Children attend this school due to mental health
issues, developmental disabilities, abuse or neglect. The
goal is to assist students to reach New York State standards
for physical education.

Horizons Student Enrichment                   $10,000
Funding towards the addition of a 2009 kindergarten class
to the existing Horizons six week summer enrichment program
for Rochester City children.  The Horizons Program has enrolled
1^st – 8^th grade students since its inception in 1995.

House of Mercy                                             $12,500
he House of Mercy provides 24 hour shelter, advocacy,
and outreach to homeless in the City of Rochester. Funds
are being used to hire two part time overnight coordinators
that are needed due to the increase in numbers of those being
serviced. Over 4,000 persons are being served each month.

Low to the Ground Productions                    $10,000
For “The Storybook Project”, an hour long documentary
about the “Bedtime Stories” volunteer effort at the Ontario
County Jail in Canandaigua. Volunteers help inmates record
the reading of children’s books. The tapes and books are sent
to their children during the parent’s incarceration.

Memorial Art Gallery                             $2,500
Co-sponsorship of five family days scheduled for
2009-2010. The Gallery expects 4,000 people to
attend family days providing families with art and
cultural activities that help them explore their own
heritages and build strong family bonds.

Mercy Outreach Center                                 $6,500
The Center provides access to primary health care,
dental care, and advocacy services to the uninsured
and underserved. Funds will be used to support a
capacity-building project to be used for volunteer
recruitment and awareness-raising.

Monroe Community College Foundation        
$12,500
For the Academy for Veteran’s Success program at
Monroe Community College. Funding will go towards
a planned summer conference and establishment of
a collection of veteran’s media resources for veterans
at the MCC campus.

Museum of Kids Art                                          $5,000
For the “From Seed to Table Program”. A collaboration
with the Greater Rochester Urban Bounty. Students
will plant and maintain an organic vegetable garden
and prepare meals from local produce that will enhance
their diets and aid in self empowerment.

The Nature Conservancy,
Central & Western NY                                       $7,500
Continued support to conclude the transaction between
the City of Rochester and NY State to permanently set
aside 7100 acres of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes watershed
as state conservation area.

National Alliance of the Mentally Ill                 $5,000
For the “Family Support Program” that helps patients
and families make the transition from victims to coping advocates.

Operation Outreach – USA                                $2,000
Program Sponsor for Operation Outreach. Providing
and students. The program focuses on literacy and
character building of pre-kindergarten through middle
chool children. This grant provides the program in the
Hawthorne Elementary school in Rochester, grades 1-3.

The Parks Junior Golf Foundation                     $5,000
“The First Tee” program at Genesee Valley Golf Course
and through the urban In-School Program. This program
trives to open doors for youth in the community that
would not have access to the game of golf and the
positive lessons it teaches.

Partners in Restorative Initiatives                   $5,000
Support for the second year of the Monroe Restorative
Practices project. This project is with Monroe High School,
student’s grades 7-12, Nazareth College and PiRi. The goal
is to improve school climate by infusing restorative philosophy
and practices through Peacemaking Circles.

Pirate Toy Fund                                                   $8,000
For expansion of the toy program to provide adaptive
toys to low income children with disabilities.

Providence Housing
Development Corporation                                $2,500
Support for the Shelter Plus Care Program. Rental
assistance to homeless adults and their families that
have been diagnosed with substance abuse. There is a
lack of permanent supportive housing for homeless
individuals in recovery from substance abuse.

Quad A for Kids                                                   $10,000
For expansion of the Neighborhood After School
Program operated at School #34 and School #4
in the City of Rochester.

Right on School                                                   $7,500
Support for Right on School. The School is a free,
six week summer school experience focusing on
strengthening academic and social skills for 125
inner-city children ages 6-13.

Rochester Area Interfaith
Hospitality Network                                           $5,000
For direct program expenses. RAIHN is an interfaith
organization which assists homeless families by
supporting them with food, shelter, personalized
case management with a broad network of volunteers.

Rochester Association
of Performing Arts                                              $2,400
Funding for 10 inner city youth scholarships for
after school programs in the performing arts. 
Children ages 8-16 from low income families are
selected via application, interview, and audition.

Rochester Children’s Theatre                          $2,000
Support for expansion of the Plays on Tour program. 
The program is entering its 18^th year and provides
theatrical programming to grades K-10. In 2008-2009
45 plays reached 11,000 students. For 2009-2010
the program is hoping to reach 15,000 students.

Rochester City Ballet                                        $2,500
Funding for “Peter and the Wolf” providing opportunity
for Rochester City School Children in grades 1-6 to
experience the performance and “on the road” tours to
local organization including: Golisano Children’s Hospital,
Mary Cariola Children’s Center, and others. Over 2000 c
hildren are expected to see the performances.

Rochester Education Foundation                   $7,000
To expand the capacity of the Give Back, Give Books
program. This program donates new books to city school
students and supports parent-child literacy events, book
clubs, and summer reading, and enhanced library offerings.

Rochester Hearing and Speech Center        $7,500
For the Head Start, Summer Pre-School through third
grade outreach programs to help children with severe
speech and language delays.

Rochester Institute of Technology,
Lab for Social Computing                                $14,000
A Rochester game called “Picture the Impossible” focusing
on different themes related to the history and culture of
Rochester. Three local charities will be part of the game. 
Points that players earn will translate to donations to Wilson
Commencement Park, Foodlink, and Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra           $5,000
Funding for the 2009 Around the Town Concert Series.
Six concerts held in community location to engage
individuals to the symphonic experience.

Rochester Presbyterian Home                 $5,000
For the “Continuing to Grow the Eden Alternative”.  
Funding will go to programming supplies, staff training,
and transportation to increase the opportunities and
living environment for 102 residents.

St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center           $5,000
Funding for the “Women on the Move” program. This
program engages up to twenty women that are low
income heads of households for a period of at least
12 months. The goal is to move them towards economic
self sufficiency through supportive services.

Seeking Common Ground                            $2,000
Support for the “Herb Haven Program”. A Horticultural
Therapy and vocational training program for women
who are low income and/or transitioning from abuse,
homelessness, or incarceration.

Sisters of Mercy                                          $12,500
To provide the current children living at the Andrews
Center love, care, nourishment, and a stable environment;
and for assistance to former resident children and families.

Veterans Outreach Center                     $5,000
To implement the VetsKids, a program for children of
current and recent service members of Iraq and Afghanistan. 
The program will provide services to children affected by
combat related stressors.

Wilson Commencement Park                       $25,000
Funding to purchase a new security system for the
WCP housing areas, to replace the aging and obsolete one.