Every year the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona funds Innovative Grants for projects aligned with our mission to promote population health and community wellness. With an emphasis on innovative ideas and collaboration, Innovative Grants give organizations the opportunity to give life to great ideas, new projects, and untried efforts.
This year seven organizations were awarded a total of $201,770 for innovative projects.
The awardees and their projects are:
Sierra Vista Lion’s Club was awarded $14,110 for their project Eyesight Screening for Schools. They will purchase eye-screening equipment that can assess eyesight in a child in just a few seconds. They will work with the school district to screen school children in Cochise County. They will also assist with eye glasses as needed.
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension was awarded $54,660 for their project Nutrition Education/Oral Health Education Volunteer Program. These funds will help coordinate volunteers including student volunteers from the Cochise College nursing program to provide nutrition and oral health education across the county.
Premier Alliances, Inc. was awarded $50,000 for their project Sierra Vista Accessible Playground. Working collaboratively with the City of Sierra Vista, these funds will put handicap accessible playground equipment in Veteran’s Park.
Alzheimer’s Association, Desert SW Chapter was awarded $7,000 for their project Cochise Community Alzheimer’s Outreach Project. Working with Community Health Workers, these funds will help make early assessment of signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s and help with life care planning in Cochise County.
City of Sierra Vista was awarded $26,000 for their project PulsePoint. PulsePoint is an app that can notify persons trained in CPR when and where a cardiac arrest is occurring. If the person is nearby, this facilitates a faster response time to performing life-saving CPR.
Community Synergy Solutions Corporation was awarded $25,000 for their project Tin Town ECOASIS Sustainable Living Center. ECOASIS is a green house, farmer’s market, training center, and a grab-and-go all of which will provide training, jobs, and an better future to the homeless living in Tin Town.
Willcox Against Substance Abuse was awarded $25,000 for their project WASA I2 – Interning and Investing. Working with local businesses, high school students will job shadow and learn about job skills. In return, these high school youth will buddy and mentor a younger student and encourage success in school.
The Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona Announces its 2018 Innovative Grant Awardees
This diverse list of projects funded by the Legacy Foundation’s Innovative Grant touches all areas of the county and all populations.
The Innovative Grant cycle opened in June 2017 with 31 organizations vying for a chance to make a formal application for an Innovative Grant. Following a preliminary review process, eighteen organizations were invited to apply. The total funding requested by these eighteen organizations was over $1.1 million. With an Innovative Grant budget of $200, 000, difficult decisions were made. Through a rigorous review process the seven projects described above were chosen to receive a grant award.
At the Innovative Grant Celebration, which took place on January 12th, Legacy Foundation CEO, Margaret Hepburn, stated, “This Innovative Grant Cycle was particularly challenging for the Legacy Foundation be-cause there were so many outstanding projects to choose from. The Legacy Board was very impressed with the caliber of the applications”. Joanna Michelich, Legacy Foundation Board Chair, commented to the attendees, “When we begin reviewing applications, that’s when our Board comes alive! It’s all about the work that you do. We applaud you, we congratulate you, and we appreciate you.” Michael Groves, Vice-Chair of the Philanthropy Committee shared, “What’s great about this cycle is that we can take a chance on your ideas. This grant helps to put your ideas into action.”
Congratulations to the awardees of the 2018 Innovative Grant.
We look forward to how your projects will benefit our communities!
