Social Venture Investors: Grant History
2009
$75,801 in Grants
Boys and Girls Clubs of Youth Commonwealth received $25,267 for its program Bridging the Academic Gap for African American Males. The Club will recruit African American adult males to mentor middle school-aged boys. Mentors will attempt to get the boys involved in Boys and Girls Club programs, reduce school absenteeism and promote academic success.
Hispanic Center of West Michigan was awarded $25,267 for its program Supporting Our Leaders. This program will provide comprehensive, culturally competent, mental health, substance abuse and intervention services to disengaged, low-income youth affected by street and domestic violence and gang involvement.
Neighborhood Ventures received $25,267 for its program ReStore Grand Rapids. This program will develop an aggressive, community-based business recruitment and job creation program. The method will be to promote neighborhood business districts by matching potential new businesses to identified neighborhood markets.
2008
$98,400 in Grants
Local First was awarded $32,800 to develop and distribute a guidebook to increase public awareness of the impact local businesses have on our economy, provide incentives for people to frequent those businesses, provide tips for “greening” one’s home or lifestyle and bolster the program’s financial sustainability.
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services received $32,800 to modify a successful mental health education curriculum for delivery in Grand Rapids urban schools. Pine Rest will collaborate with the Mental Health Foundation which developed the curriculum and has implemented it in the suburban schools. The goal is to combat stigma associated with mental health treatment among young people.
YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids was granted $32,800 to offer a week-long summer camp for 50 area children, ages 9 to 11, who are overweight or obese. Participants will be referred by pediatricians at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Pediatric Clinic, which primarily serves Medicaid patients.
2007
$98,400 in Grants
Gilda's Club received $32,800 to expand services to children ages 3-18 who are grieving a death due to any cause by providing psycho-educational, developmentally appropriate curriculum that is interactive and engaging.
Literacy Center of West Michigan was awarded $32,800 to provide a holistic approach to literacy for at-risk families through one-on-one tutoring for parents and twice monthly family literacy workshops.
Women's Recource Center was granted $32,800 to provide employment development services to 36 low-income single mothers with minor children.
2006
$74,500 in Grants
Arbor Circle Corporation was granted $22,250 to expand its interaction with youth, ages 10-21 through a new program, Knowledge, Skills, Service, Power (KSSP). This youth development program will engage approximately 150 youth, with the aim of reducing the consequences of risk factors such as poverty, delinquency, homelessness and poor academic performance.
Cherry Street Health Services was given $22,250 to hire an additional dentist at the West Side Health Center site, to increase the incidence of restorative care for children referred through the Center’s school dental screenings.
United Methodist Community House was awarded $30,000 to Social Work and Police Partnership (SWAPP) to help women escape prostitution and substance abuse, and provide them with training, mentoring, tutoring and support to help them and their children complete their journey to success.
2005
$83,600 in Grants
Comprehensive Therapy Center was granted $19,800 to allow five additional low-income children with disabilities to attend the Therapy and Fun seven-week summer program that provides supplemental speech and language therapy.
New Development Corporation was given $25,400 to help the Corporation increase home ownership among low-income families by providing: financial management, credit repair and economic literacy training; matched savings through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs); home ownership counseling; and renovated and affordable homes for sale.
Wedgwood Christian Services’ Lighthouse Academy was awarded $20,000 to serve 15 students in grades 9 through 12 who have been expelled from school. Students improve their standardized test scores, participate in service learning projects, explore job and career opportunities, benefit from mentoring, and develop transition plans for post-education.
Arc Kent County was granted $18,400 to hire social work interns to expand the Dignified Lifestyles/Community Connections program and train volunteer teams to visit homes.
2004
$93,800 in Grants
Home Repair Services of Kent County was awarded $30,200 to help implement a new "Pride of Home Ownership" project.
Grand Rapids Public Schools Student Advancement Foundation was given a grant of $28,200 to re-stock the Burton Elementary School library with books and other reading materials.
St. John's Home was granted $35,400 to develop a "safe and normal" high school program for students recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
2003
$112,200 in Grants
Children's Assessment Center was given $36,800 to provide a closed circuit television link and a forensic interview expert, so that children may testify during a sexual or physical abuse trial from the safe environment of the Children's Assessment Center, rather than the courtroom.
Dwelling Place Mainstreet Initiatives was granted $28,200 to help accelerate efforts to renovate storefronts and facades in the Heartside and Wealthy Theatre business districts.
Grandville Avenue Academy for the Arts was given funding of $23,800 to provide neighborhood children and teens with arts opportunities to keep them from gangs and other destructive influences.
School-to-Career Progressions was awarded $23,400 to help students at Grand Rapids Central High School complete their education and prepare to enter the workforce.
2002
$112,000 in Grants
Camp Fire USA's Community Family Club was given a grant of $28,000 to involve adults with children to strengthen confidence, build family relationships and achieve educational goals.
Individual Development Accounts was awarded $26,000 to help families acquire the financial knowledge, skills and savings necessary to purchase a home.
Pediatric and Adult Asthma Network was granted $30,000 to provide in-home case management services for uninsured, low-income children with moderate to severe asthma.
Perspective 21/Early Impact was given a grant of $28,000 to help at-risk families with housing assistance, parenting skills and substance abuse counseling.
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