Inasmuch Foundation announces $7.35 million in grants

OKLAHOMA CITY – Inasmuch Foundation announced today the distribution of $7.35 million in grants to 40 organizations serving Oklahoma communities.

Inasmuch Foundation, founded by Edith Kinney Gaylord in 1982, supports education, health and human services and community enhancement initiatives that enrich the quality of life for Oklahomans.

“It was another highly competitive and compelling grant cycle filled with requests from outstanding organizations across the state” said Bob Ross, President and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation.  “We are excited to see the positive impact these grants will have not only in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, but also in smaller communities such as Muskogee and Wewoka.”

Grants were awarded to organizations for projects addressing the foundation’s areas of interest as follows:

Education

• $833,700 to Sunbeam Family Services in support of OKC Educare, which provides the highest quality early education to 212 children birth to five living in poverty in Oklahoma City.
• $443,286 to Oklahoma City Public Schools, representing the 4^th grant totaling $1.748 million for expansion of half-day to full-day prekindergarten district-wide.
• $250,000 to Mount Saint Mary High School for a new cafeteria/commons area and kitchen, bringing the Foundation’s total commitment to $500,000.
• $250,000 to Smart Start Central Oklahoma’s Early Birds program and in general support of their work to ensure that young children enter school safe, healthy, eager to learn and ready to succeed.
• $75,000 matching grant to Oklahoma City Public Schools for a pilot project at US Grant High School to convert its institutional style cafeteria into a vibrant space designed by and for students.
• $25,000 to Tulsa Community Foundation for the Teacher Leadership Effectiveness Fund, a Tulsa Public Schools reform initiative focused on improving teacher performance, effectiveness and evaluation.
• $25,000 to Tulsa Lighthouse Charter School, part of a nationwide, non-profit network that prepares students for college through rigorous arts-infused programming.

Health and Human Services

• $1,500,000 to Catholic Charities to construct a new 30,000 sq. ft. facility, to be built at NW 12th and Classen. The facility will house all programs and include a community-use conference center.
• $1,000,000 to Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma for continued development of Food Resource Centers and for facility expansion.
• $377,500 to ReMerge of Oklahoma County. The intensive year-long program provides an alternative to incarceration for non-violent female offenders with minor children.
• $150,000 to Center for Employment Opportunities for CEO Oklahoma City, helping formerly incarcerated people secure and sustain jobs.
• $105,000 to Citizens Caring for Children for new clothing, school supplies, books and toys for Oklahoma City Metro area foster children.
• $100,000 to Mental Health Association Oklahoma to provide support services statewide, including Lottie House, a new peer-run drop-in center in Oklahoma City where all staff members have experienced the difficulties of living with a mental illness in their own lives.
• $100,000 to Variety Care Foundation to provide accessible and affordable health care for low-income individuals and their families; includes medical, dental, mental health, and optometry services, as well as community and social services.
• $50,000 to City Rescue Mission for renovation of the Men’s Center, encompassing classrooms, public restrooms, shower facilities, dormitory quarters and a cafeteria. Currently, men’s, women’s, and families’ services are housed under the same roof.
• $50,000 to Family & Children’s Services for Women in Recovery, an alternative to incarceration for female offenders with substance abuse and mental health issues.
• $50,000 to Hearts for Hearing Foundation for construction of a new facility just north of Lake Hefner on Portland, which will combine all services. Currently, administrative offices, an adult clinic, a pediatric clinic, and a preschool are housed in four different buildings.
• $40,000 to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma to provide free civil legal services to the disadvantaged.
• $40,000 to Volunteers of America Oklahoma for the Payee Services program at WestTown Resource Campus in Oklahoma City, providing financial case management to those with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, physical disabilities and senior concerns.
• $35,000 to A Chance to Change Foundation for an in-school program that helps at-risk teens and for an education series on addiction.
• $35,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma County for operating support.
• $30,000 to Resonance Center for Women for substance abuse treatment and re-entry support services for women in diversion programs.
• $25,000 to Center for Employment Opportunities for CEO Tulsa, helping formerly incarcerated people secure and sustain jobs.
• $25,000 to Girl Scouts – Western Oklahoma for operating support.
• $25,000 to Rebuilding Together Tulsa for operating support.
• $25,000 to Stand in the Gap to mentor youth aging out of foster care, prepare female ex-offenders to live healthy lives post-incarceration, and support widows through the stages of grief.
• $20,000 to Urban Mission for new school supplies, backpacks and school uniforms for children in struggling families.
• $15,000 to Tulsa Boys’ Home for meals and clothing. TBH is a residential treatment facility for boys with emotional and behavioral problems.

Community Enhancement

• $290,000 to Oklahoma City Museum of Art for strategic planning and for the 2014-15 season of exhibitions, education, outreach and film programs.
• $250,000 to Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma for construction of new lakeside camp at St. Crispin’s Camp and Conference Center.
• $240,000 to Possibilities for the Possibilities Innovation Program, empowering participants to create community-level changes.
• $225,000 to Lyric Theatre for support of productions at Civic Center and Plaza Theatre.
• $200,000 to Oklahoma Philharmonic Society for the 2014-15 Classics Series at Civic Center and the Patriotic Pops concert at State Fair Park.
• $100,000 to Muskogee Little Theatre for construction of a new performing arts facility.
• $84,000 to Oklahoma City Beautiful for landscape maintenance for the properties at Educare Center and Cesar Chavez Elementary School.
• $50,000 to First Serve OKC for a facility to house year-round physical education and tennis programs for at-risk youth.
• $50,000 to Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum for operating support.
• $40,000 to Oklahoma City Ballet for season productions, scholarships, classes at A+ and Oklahoma City Public Schools and regional touring opportunities.
• $36,000 to Canterbury Choral Society for the adult chorus 2014-17 concert seasons.
• $30,000 to Executive Service Corps of Central Oklahoma to provide business management reviews for four nonprofit organizations.
• $30,000 to Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park for theatrical productions and educational programming.
• $25,000 to Myriad Gardens Foundation for year round programs and activities.

Letters of Inquiry for the next cycle are due August 15, 2014. To learn more about Inasmuch Foundation, visit www.inasmuchfoundation.org or call 405-604-5292.