Eckerd Family Foundation

CHILD PROTECTION & PREVENTION:

	December 2003 Pisgah Legal Services Asheville, North Carolina	Awarded: $90,000
	A three-year grant supporting the School Partnership Project which works with at-risk children on issues affecting their ability to be successful in school. The program addresses issues arising in the home such as domestic violence, homelessness, inadequate access to health care and basic resources. Project was started in Asheville schools and is now expanding to eight school districts in seven counties of western North Carolina.

EARLY CHILD CARE:

	December 2003 Highlands Community Child Development Center, Inc. Highlands, North Carolina	Awarded: $200,000
	Providing a capital challenge grant to construct a community-based facility to provide early child development services to working families and at-risk children in the extended Highlands, North Carolina community.

EDUCATION:

	February 2003 A Gift For Teaching of Tampa Bay Tampa, Florida	Awarded: $36,500
	A challenge grant to organize new sources of support to partner with AGFT to provide basic educational tools for economically disadvantaged students in 18 Hillsborough County public schools. The program provides volume recycled school supplies such as paper, notebooks, crayons, pencils and books as well as many items that could be used in decorating a classroom or as project supplies. Items usually discarded by individuals and businesses, small and large, are recycled into classrooms. The challenge grant funds will be applied to first-year staffing costs. .........................................................................................................................................

	May 2003 Academy Prep Foundation, Inc. (3) St. Petersburg, Florida	Awarded: $800,000
	A working capital endowment challenge supporting the expansion of the school into Hillsborough County at the Academy Prep Center of Tampa. The grant will provide operating capital during the period of construction of new facilities and the renovation of the V. M. Ybor Grammar School historical building. At the conclusion of the capital campaign, a portion of the grant will be transferred to the permanent endowment supporting Academy Prep Center of Tampa. This grant supports the replication of one of the most effective programs for inner-city middle school students providing a tuition-free education, placement and support through high school and college. See: www.AcademyPrep.org. .........................................................................................................................................

	May 2003 Diamond Community School, Inc. Palm Bay, Florida	Awarded: $140,000
	A challenge grant supporting fine and industrial arts training programs for students K-8. The grant supports new construction and renovation of existing facilities to house the music classes, theater and visual arts. Diamond School is an alternative school for academic and socially at-risk children. .........................................................................................................................................

	February 2003 Performing Arts Center and Theater, Inc. (PACT, Inc.) Clearwater, Florida	Awarded: $100,000
	Awarding a grant for the final three years of the Passport for the Arts pilot program. This program was initially launched by the Eckerd Family Foundation and is now in the implementation-evaluation-dissemination stage. The program works with three partnering elementary schools providing arts experiences and integrated lesson plans at no cost to the schools or students. An evaluation component is an integral element and the model and outcomes will be published for the field.

EDUCATION – After School:

	August 2003 Citizens Alliance for Progress, Inc. (2) Tarpon Springs, Florida	Awarded: $72,000
	Continuing support for the educational support program at schools with a high population of at-risk youth, providing a connection between schools, parents, youth and the community with the goal to promote educational excellence. .........................................................................................................................................

	May 2003 University Community Ministries, Inc. Tampa, Florida	Awarded: $65,140
	A two-year challenge grant for start-up funds for the Parents and Children Advance Together program. UCM has joined with Sulphur Springs Elementary the University of South Florida and other service providers to provide a literacy program that will enhance academic performance and school readiness for children in kindergarten through third grade by placing an emphasis on academic achievement and improved reading skill levels. UCM, in partnership with over 20 social service agencies, parents, institutions of higher learning and retired volunteers, has developed this literacy program targeting children and families with a holistic support network that is committed to building families of readers. .........................................................................................................................................

	December 2003 Young Life Greater Tampa Bay Region (2) Largo, Florida	Awarded: $252,000
	Providing a four-year grant starting the Bridging the Achievement GAP program. This new program focuses on four schools, Largo, Osceola, Pinellas Park and Seminole High Schools, and identifies at-risk students who will likely drop out and supports their efforts to stay in school and secure a high school diploma. This remedial, after-school program for students who fail the FCAT test (required for high school graduation) examines each student’s report from the previous FCAT test, designs an individual program of study and supports the youth’s efforts to stay in school and graduate.

EDUCATION – EFF Scholarship Initiative:

	Eckerd Family Foundation Scholarships Highlands, North Carolina	Awarded: $440,000
	In May 2002, the foundation launched a scholarship initiative. The total amount awarded is cumulative. It is our intention to disseminate the experience of each participating agency. Establishing a scholarship program for eleven nonprofit, youth-serving agencies to provide traditional and nontraditional scholarship opportunities to selected youth, ages 14-24, with demonstrated need. Each agency administers the program, conducts the application process, monitors award recipients and provides semi-annual reports to the foundation. The initiative offers general guidelines but permits each organization to develop its own specific criteria. Awards may be used for any kind of assistance, including enrichment activities, vocational training or to facilitate taking advantage of such opportunities. Most recent participants have included: African American Leadership Council; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast – 61C Teen Center; Centre for Women; Computer Mentors Group; Crosswinds Youth Services; Children’s Home Society/Brevard Co./Hacienda; PACE Center for Girls; Young Life Urban of Pinellas County; Tampa Bay Academy of Hope; YWCA of Tampa Bay; and Eckerd Youth Alternatives. Organizations are invited to participate based on past experience as a grantee or, if not a grantee, upon outstanding commitment to positive youth development.

FOSTER CARE:

	December 2003 Florida Kinship Center, University of South Florida Tampa, Florida	Awarded: $50,000
	Supporting the expansion and enhancement of this evidence-based program serving foster children in middle school and their families. Kinship care is the fulltime care of a child by a relative other than the biological parent. The Center’s mission is to serve kinship care families living in the Tampa Bay area and Florida; to conduct research that advances knowledge and understanding of kinship care; and to engage the resources of the Center in partnerships that respond to kinship care needs and issues.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING:

	December 2003 A Gift For Teaching of Pinellas, Inc. Clearwater, Florida	Awarded: $75,000
	Providing a two-year challenge grant for start-up funding, including warehouse and store space and a program manager to manage the store and volunteers. The mission for AGFTP ensures that Pinellas County teachers and their economically disadvantaged students have the required tools for effective teaching and learning by collecting and recycling discarded items. .........................................................................................................................................

	December 2003 A Gift For Teaching of Tampa Bay, Inc. (2) Tampa, Florida	Awarded: $30,000
	Providing a challenge grant to strengthen the capacity of the agency for future growth and sustainability through support of continued marketing and development activities. The organization collects and provides donated classroom supplies and materials to schools serving youth throughout Hillsborough County. Targeted schools have an enrollment of at least 85% at-risk youth as identified by the free lunch program. .........................................................................................................................................

	December 2003 Neighborhood Family Centers Coalition, Inc. Clearwater, Florida	Awarded: $30,000
	Funding development of this administrative service entity, serving ten family centers, that will administer contract funding, consolidate administrative functions for cost efficiencies, provide administrative services to the centers, coordinate and standardize common programs, develop funding sources for members, and evaluate program and operational outcomes.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:

	December 2003 The Children’s Museum of Tampa dba Kid City Tampa, Florida	Awarded: $65,000
	Awarding a two-year challenge grant to support the implementation of the Youth Leadership Development Program. The program specifically targets at-risk, low-income adolescents and is designed to provide these teens with opportunities to develop successful workplace skills and put these skills to practical use through paid work at the museum and other nonprofit organizations. .........................................................................................................................................

	December 2003 Clearwater Marine Aquarium (2) Clearwater, Florida	Awarded: $37,620
	Continuing support for the Spinner Program, which provides animal-assisted therapy to at-risk youth. The program offers children and adolescents opportunities to learn about and help care for dolphins, sea turtles and other marine life. While working with the animals, the youth learn new skills, new ways of seeing the world, and new ways of feeling about themselves and their possibilities in life. .........................................................................................................................................

	December 2003 Club Esteem, Inc. Melbourne, Florida	Awarded: $100,000
	Providing operating expense to support expansion of the after-school program founded on the Bank Street School “inquiry” based interdisciplinary instruction. The goal is to enable children to think for themselves, ask questions, seek answers and know that, with the right motivation, they can rise to the top of any field they wish to explore, with a college education as a future goal. .........................................................................................................................................

	December 2003 Tampa Bay Academy of Hope, Inc. (2) Tampa, Florida	Awarded: $150,000
	A second grant award covering two years with a second-year challenge component. The award supports the School Leadership Program targeted at 12 to 18 year-old youth that reside in the Enterprise Community of Tampa. The program’s primary goals are to provide youth with opportunities and support enabling them to successfully complete high school and to promote responsible citizenship. .........................................................................................................................................

	August 2003 YMCA Family Center – Cocoa Cocoa, Florida	Awarded: $50,000
	Providing scholarships over a three-year period for at-risk children through a collaborative effort of the Central Florida YMCA and Brevard Community College. The partnership will transform a vacant sports center into a YMCA Family Center to serve low-income residents in the community. Upon completion of the renovation, the project will offer a full range of youth sports and activities, a teen center that will include computers and monthly themes based on the YMCA character-building model. The facility will provide a suitable environment for full-service, YMCA programs that promote positive youth development. Program scholarships cover short- and long-term memberships as well as specific activities such as summer camp or swimming lessons.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT – After School:

	December 2003 Tae Kwon Do for At-Risk Kids, Inc. Tampa, Florida	Awarded: $15,000
	Funding scholarships for after-school care for 20 at-risk children, ages 5 to 12, referred to the program and who are displaying problems with discipline, attention, confidence, academics, achieving goals and behavior. In addition to Tae Kwon Do classes, the students have homework time with staff supervision and assistance. There is an onsite computer lab for skill building and homework assignments. The staff prepares daily life-skills stories and lessons with discussion on topics such as nutrition, responsibility, community service, fitness, first aid, goals, self-discipline, respect and loyalty.