The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands recently awarded $23,174 in grants to 31 projects through its 2010 CFVI Mini-Grants program.
The grants range from $250 to $1,000. Mini-grants are provided for innovative programs which seek to improve the lives of children and families in St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, according to CFVI’s President, Dee Baecher-Brown.
Since 1997, the Mini-Grant program at the Community Foundation has awarded more than $380,000 to 597 grantees, funding projects by community organizations and individuals throughout the Virgin Islands.
“CFVI believes that the mini-grants program is a wonderful example of how long-term commitment and small grants can have a big impact in our community,” Baecher-Brown said.
The mini-grants support a wide range of service organizations and individuals working to provide positive alternatives for children and families and help meet social challenges, including child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, drug abuse and illiteracy.
The following are a few examples of the mini grants that were awarded this year.
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St. Mary’s Cub Scouts Pack 898 on St. Croix received a grant for “Building Leadership through Scouting” a program that would allow younger scouts to learn about solar energy along with how environmentally friendly renewable energy is and how it can be used.
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On St. Thomas, a grant awarded to the Virgin Islands Institute for the Agricultural Development, Inc. program “Teen Landscaping Design and Greenhouse Management” will support training of young adults to enhance and sustain botanical aesthetics of their environment for the good of their community. This will also involve training on the use of plants and flowers to employ themselves.
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A grant awarded for “Financial Planning for Children and Adults,” a program of the St. John Community Foundation, will allow children in the third through sixth graders at the Guy Benjamin School to receive training about saving money and financial planning. This program will extend to provide free financial planning information to adults in the St. John community.
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands was established in 1990. To date, the foundation has grown to more than 90 funds created by individuals and businesses to support educational, environmental, social and cultural initiatives in the Virgin Islands.
CFVI also distributes scholarships to students throughout the Virgin Islands and grants to individual teachers for innovative classroom projects.
A complete list of the grant recipients and more information about the foundation can be found by visiting the group’s website at www.cfvi.net, or calling 774-6031.
