Our Winter 2012 Grantees

The Blessings Project Foundation concluded our January 2012 grant cycle with over $10,500 in grants awarded to three nonprofit organizations. These funds will work to improve the lives of animals in North Carolina, as well as to protect and preserve an important historical landmark. Meet our January 2012 Grantees:

Friends of Blair Mountain

Friends of Blair Mountain (FOBM) has as its core mission to preserve the historical Blair Mountain Battlefield in Logan County, West Virginia. Blair Mountain is the site of the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain which was fought to end exploitative and systematic abuse of coalfield citizens. FOBM had as its first great achievement the listing of the Blair Mountain Battlesite on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Unfortunately, pressure from the coal industry resulted in the de-listing of Blair Mountain just months after its initial listing. Funding from BFP in the amount of $4500 will support FOBM’s on-site efforts to protect and preserve the Blair Mountain Battlefield. Their project is a phased one: the first element is to protect the site from ongoing attempts by the coal industry to mine up to and into the Battlefield site, while also working to get the site relisted on the National Register of Historic Places; once the site is relisted, the second phase of the project is to push for permanent protection of the Battlefield by having it designated as a National Monument or State Park. Other efforts in conjunction with the phases of this project include: organizing commemorations of other mine-war battlesites; conducting further archeological research on the Blair Mountain Battlesite; and developing the Blair Community Center and Museum, which will provide a gathering place for local citizens, museum cases for Blair Mountain artifacts, period photographs, and space for FOBM meetings.
www.friendsofblairmountain.org

Community Partnership for Pets, Inc.

Community Partnership for Pets (CPP) was established in Henderson County, NC with a mission to provide affordable spay/neuter services to needy families in its community. CPP is an all volunteer organization, working in a community in which nearly 25% of its residents are low income/poverty level. In recent years, due mainly to their work in the area, CPP has seen a 25% reduction in the number of animals euthanized at the County Shelter, with an increase of 23% in the number of spay/neuter surgeries between 2010 and 2011. Only four area vets have agreed to work with CPP to provide spay/neuter services at a reduced rate, and prior to that arrangement, CPP had to transport animals to veterinary hospitals in Asheville and Brevard (a 45-minute trip each direction). Transport and stay in Asheville/Brevard naturally resulted in higher post-surgical complication rates for animals. A grant from BPF in the amount of $3000 will assist CPP in working with low income families to offer them free or low-cost spay/neuter services in partnership with four local veterinarians.
www.communitypartnershipforpets.org

Humane Solution Spay/Neuter Program

Humane Solution has as its mission to provide safe and affordable spay/neuter surgeries to residents of the greater Winston-Salem/Forsyth County area. As a fundraiser for their program, Humane Solution runs four low-cost rabies/microchip clinics throughout our community. Profits from these clinics support the spay/neuter voucher program. Money raised from these clinics will allow Humane Solution to supplement approximately 270 spay/neuter surgeries. Funding from BPF in the amount of $3000 will assist Humane Solution in purchasing needed supplies to run their popular rabies and microchip clinics, thereby increasing the funding available for their free/reduced cost spay/neuter program.
www.humanesolution.org