JANE K. LOWE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
2008 Discretionary Grants

ORGANIZATION

PURPOSE

TIER

AMOUNT

Habitat for Humanity International, Inc.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate substandard housing in our area and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

  The grant will provide funds for land acquisition (11 acres) and infrastructure costs as it relates to land development for a Habitat Subdivision.  The addition of these lots to Habitat's inventory will allow it to build new homes in the proposed subdivision through 2011.

First

$100,000.00

Merrimack Academy for the Performing Arts, Inc.

The mission of Merrimack Academy is to provide educational and performance opportunities to Huntsville's emerging and established performers.

The grant will provide funds to prepare a program of ongoing dance classes for children with physical, mental and emotional disabilities and to provide  needed equipment for the facility. This dance program will be used as a launching pad to become an umbrella organization through which other organizations providing benefits and services to children can incorporate the performing arts into their activities.

First

$100,000.00

Huntsville Inner City Learning Center, Inc.

The mission of Huntsville Inner City Learning Center, in partnership with local schools, families and our community, is to enable students to become socially responsible citizens who are productive and competent lifelong learners.

The grant will provide funds to be used to pay  salaries for two full-time positions: a Program Director and an Educational Director.  Funds will also be used to support the transportation, food curriculum and school supply needs for this after-school tutoring and mentoring program.

First

$100,000.00

Alabama A&M University

The mission of Alabama A&M University, in cooperation with businesses, industrial and governmental agencies, and other institutions, is to provide a laboratory where theory is put into practice in a productive environment.

The grant will provide scholarship funds for a matching award from the State of Alabama if the school raises $1 million from private sources.

Second

$50,000.00

University of Alabama Huntsville

The mission of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is to benefit society through excellence in teaching, research, and service. 

The grant will provide funds for maintenance and refurbishment of the Lowe House complex in a manner consistent with public expectations of a university facility.  This grant will also promote the  Lowe House to its 4,000 annual visitors.

Second

$50,000.00

HEALS, Inc. (Health Establishments at Local Schools)

The mission of HEALS, Inc. is to provide free primary medical, dental, mental health, and social services to qualifying students and their siblings. 

The grant will provide funds to support the hiring of an additional full-time Nurse Practitioner to help cover the four school-based health clinics.

Second

$50,000.00

Arc of Madison County, Inc. (Formerly Madison County Association for Retarded Citizens)

The mission of the ARC is to provide services for adults with intellectual disabilities.  The services include daily living training, work training, and leisure/recreation training programs.

The grant will provide funds to help secure matching federal appropriated funds to meet critical transportation needs in the Madison County area.  These funds will be used to replace the current fleet of vans, to enhance the recycle program, and to expand transportation services for individuals with disabilities.

Second

$50,000.00

The North Alabama Science Center, Inc. (Sci-Quest)

The mission of Sci-Quest is to promote science literacy through interactive exhibits and innovative learning experiences for a diverse and expanding audience.

The grant will provide funds for classroom  improvements, upgrades and expansion.  This project will allow Sci-Quest to grow and serve additional students, and to educate and excite area youth in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering an technology.

Second

$50,000.00

Hospice Family Care

The mission of Hospice Family Care is to reduce the suffering of patients and care givers and enhance quality of life, support systems, and care giver satisfaction.  Hospice Family Care provides accessible, top-quality hospice care and services, believing that all people have a right to a compassionate, quality, end-of-life.

The grant will provide funds for the Altruistic Program.  The target population is anyone living in Madison County in the end-stages of a terminal illness who is either uninsured or under insured.

Third

$22,000.00

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Association

The mission of the HSO=s Third Grade Violin Program is to provide free introductory violin classes, using Suzuki approach, with instruments provided by the HSO, and to offer the program in every elementary school in Decatur, Scottsboro and Athens school systems, several private schools and five schools in the Huntsville City Schools.  

The grant will provide funds for the youth violin program.  This funding will help to provide more opportunities for extensive and specialized training in early childhood music education and Huntsville Symphony Orchestra's arts-in-education programs, including the third grade violin program, after-school violin classes, and elementary school residency program.  This grant will allow meaningful participation in music by more children.

Third

$22,000.00

The Community Free Clinic, Inc.

The mission of the Clinic is to service those who are not covered under any health insurance plan and who are not eligible for other health care benefits.

The grant will provide funds for the purchase of life-sustaining pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. 

Third

$22,000.00

Hospital Hospitality House of Huntsville, Inc. (Blount Hospitality House)

The mission of Blount Hospitality House is to provide a place to eat, relax, sleep, shower, and do laundry in a supportive, caring atmosphere for family members of hospital patients.

The grant will provide funds for operating expenses to enable the organization to continue providing a home-away-from-home for family members of out of town hospital patients as well as day cancer patients who travel to Huntsville for treatments and then travel back to their homes each night.  Funds will also be used for replacement of bedding.

Third

$22,000.00

Therapy Partners, Inc.

The mission of Therapy Partners is to honor the human-animal bond to enhance the quality of life for all ages.  The organization provides animal-assisted therapy services, community education programs, and on-going educational services to residents of North Alabama. 

The grant will provide funds for software upgrades, replacement of one computer, and the purchase of a laptop computer to be used in the community presentations.

Third

$22,000.00

Huntsville Chamber Music Guild

The Guild's mission is to provide the community of Huntsville and the region of Northern Alabama with a season of performances of the highest quality musicianship. The Guild also works to lay the foundation for the future generations of classical music enthusiasts by providing live performances and educational opportunities to young people in the Tennessee Valley.

The grant will provide funds for performing artists and educational events.  This funding will support the musical educational/encounters/

performances programs by bringing to the community "celebrity" artists/ensembles and providing up close and personal live educational encounters with top internationally-known artists.  This grant will enable more young people in the Tennessee Valley to experience musical educational encounters and performances with top internationally-known artists.

Third

$22,000.00

Big Brothers, Big Sisters of North Alabama, Inc.

The mission of Big Brothers, Big Sisters is to  establish relationships where both children and adults share personal time and attention, fun activities, and companionship.  Once matched, the child may remain matched with a volunteer until he or she reaches age 18.

The grant will provide funds to expand its program "Bigs in the City."  Approximately 200 additional children will be matched to caring, responsible adults in all areas of the county.  In all programs, one-on-one role modeling and mentoring will be provided for children primarily from single-parent families.

Third

$22,000.00

Still Serving Veterans

The mission of Still Serving Veterans is to provide staff, equipment, and technology necessary to assist wounded veterans in becoming productive citizens and in transitioning into the civilian workforce.

The grant will provide funds for the implementation of psychological and counseling services for wounded veterans and their immediate families.

Third

$22,000.00

Madison County Coalition for Healthy Marriages

The mission of the organization is to promote and strengthen the institution of healthy marriage and reduce the associated costs of divorce to children, families and society.

The grant will provide funds for the development of a Marriage Center in which resources for strengthening marriage will be made available at no cost to members of the community.  Curriculum and equipment will be purchased and a part-time director will manage the center.

Third

$22,000.00

American Red Cross (Madison/Marshall County Chapter)

The mission of the American Red Cross is to provide relief to victims of disaster and to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

The grant will provide funds to implement a Babysitting Course designed to teach 11-15 year olds how to care for other children and how to handle emergencies.   Funds will cover the cost for 500 students to participate in this training which will also include children in the under-served organizations.

Third

$22,000.00