Our Spring 2011 Grantees

The Blessings Project Foundation is pleased to announce our Spring 2011 grant recipients. With an average award of $2,500 per grantee, this group represents a strong assemblage of non-profits who reflect the Foundation’s commitment to the environment, natural healing, the arts, animal advocacy and human rights. We continue to welcome your support in our mission and the following group of committed organizations in their projects and goals to positively impact lives.

March on Blair Mountain

Friends of Blair Mountain will conduct a 50-mile, five day march on Blair Mountain, WVA to “redress the severe human rights abuses perpetuated on the miners and their families by the coal industry.” The granted funds will cover transportation for people from Appalachia who would not be able to participate if not for travel assistance. The project is in sync with the Foundation’s dedication to preserve the land, to assist those who are working for mountain preservation and to assist the residents.
www.marchonblairmountain.org

Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries

Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries is located in Wallace, NC—an area underserved by public transportation and deeply affected by the recession. Their mission is much like Crisis Control here in Winston-Salem—assisting with emergency needs for people who are contributing to their own well-being but down on their luck. Provided funds will buy gas cards so people can get to and from work as gas prices make it difficult to afford fuel.

Goler Community Garden at the Downtown Health Plaza

The Goler Community Garden at DHP brings together diverse groups of people with little access to fresh fruits and vegetables to foster health and nutrition. Labor for construction over the past two years has been provided by volunteers and costs have been met through donations from individuals, mostly the volunteers.
Goler Community Garden on Facebook

Group Homes of Forsyth County, Inc.

Group Homes of Forsyth County serves residential care and training for adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Funds requested would provide them with the ability to continue with an existing photo/audio essay “The Story of My Life”—to create a broader public understanding of their life struggles. Clients are expressing their stories through photography assisted by local professional photographer, Christine Rucker.
www.grphms.com
Referenced Video: www.vimeo.com/14609628

Heartstrings

Heartstrings Pregnancy and Loss Center uses non-traditional group format—conducted by trained accredited professionals, to assist families grieving the loss of a baby—“from conception to one year of age.” The groups is endorsed by our local Hospice who has provided these services for more than 20 years and often collaborate on workshops and counseling sessions.
www.heartstringssupport.org

The Keeper of the Mountains Foundation

Funds requested will assist in travel experiences so that organization founder Larry Gibson can travel nationally to spread his message of anti mountain top removal for coal mining.
www.mountainkeeper.blogspot.com

National Committee for the New River

The mission of the National Committee of the New River is to protect the New River from polluters and inappropriate development. NCNR serves people and communities in the New River Watershed in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
Photographer Carl Galie, who also works for the West Virginia anti-coal mining initiatives, has dedicated his time and professional photography to exhibitions that create community awareness. Funding requested would cover framing, signage and promotional materials for Carl’s upcoming exhibitions.
Organization’s website: www.ncnr.org
Carl Galie’s website: www.carlgaliephotography.com

People of Winston-Salem Art Reclamation (!POWAR!)

The goal of !POWAR! is to bring together youth, professional artists and communities to partner in public art activities and dissuade graffiti and gang violence. Funds requested will provide a summer arts experience for underprivileged, at-risk teens to help them with beautification of neighborhoods and to provide constructive arts experiences. The program is established and will continue to follow students into the school year to encourage scholastic performance.

stone circles at The Stone House

Stone Circles provides workshops, retreats and leadership training for community leaders and activists who work for social change. The funding supports a “soul sanctuary” to assist the change agents to learn new practices and address burnout often experienced by activists and to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of their efforts.
www.stonecircles.org

Winston-Salem Youth Chorus

The Foundation’s support last year helped the Chorusestablish Green Street UMC Kids’ Café, where disadvantaged youth could be a part of the Chorus and receive after-school tutoring in addition to musical training. This grant provides additional funding to continue the program.
www.wsyouthchorus.org