$98,000 Granted to Northern Kentucky Nonprofits
eight organizations to receive funding from horizon community funds
Horizon Community Funds has granted $98,000 to eight different nonprofits serving Northern Kentucky. This is the largest Community Impact Fund grant cycle since Horizon Community Funds was founded in 2017.
The following nonprofits received funds:
• The Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation received $15,000 for improved patient navigation in Northern Kentucky clinics. These funds will help to address demand for eyecare in Northern Kentucky through a full-time Family Liaison, a position dedicated to facilitating the clinic experience and treatment of eye disease for CEIF’s pediatric and adult patients.
• Gateway Community & Technical College received $5,000 for their Food for Thought Pantry, which provides fresh and shelf-stable foods, basic household supplies such as paper towels and trash bags, and personal care products not covered by SNAP benefits to students in need.
• Leadership Council for Nonprofits received $10,000 for the BOLD NKY Cohort. These funds will be used to engage the Northern Kentucky nonprofit sector and enroll local future and current nonprofit leaders into LC’s Board Orientation + Leadership Development (BOLD) program.
• Life Learning Center received $14,500 for their Embedded Remote Employment Team, which will offer remote care and services at employer partner locations. This program will provide career retention and advancement support including peer support services for LLC Candidates/Members.
• Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY received $15,000 to bring their new food truck to neighborhoods identified as having high food insecurity among seniors and high numbers of seniors belonging to historically underserved racial and ethnic minority groups.
• Northern Kentucky University received $20,000 for Nursing Advocacy Center for the Underserved. This program works to eliminate health disparities and improve the quality of life among the region’s most vulnerable populations by identifying their health priorities and removing barriers to receiving proper care.
• People Working Cooperatively received $8,500 for home repairs and modifications in Northern Kentucky to ensure that low-income homeowners are able to meet their fundamental need for safe, sound, accessible, healthful, and affordable housing.
• UpSpring received $10,000 for Summer 360: Northern Kentucky. This program is an academic and enrichment day camp that focuses on increasing math skills, literacy, and social-emotional wellbeing for children experiencing homelessness in Northern Kentucky.
“Northern Kentucky is fortunate to have so many nonprofits providing exceptional and indispensable services to our community members,” stated Nancy Grayson, President and CEO of Horizon Community Funds. “We are look forward to seeing the work these eight nonprofits are able to accomplish with the funding they received and are grateful to all who have donated to the Community Impact Fund to make these grants possible.”
"When Horizon began giving grants from its Community Impact Fund, the amounts were smaller and the recipients few,” commented Kit Andrews, Horizon Community Funds Grantmaking Committee Chair. “This year, we began vetting projects with nearly $100,000 to give! We are serving more people and we find the programs are more focused and innovative. Because of your generosity, we’re lifting Northern Kentucky individuals and families through improved education, healthcare, housing, and jobs. We thank you."
The Community Impact Fund provides an annual flexible grant opportunity that provides resources for nonprofits that accelerate change, innovate solutions, and leverage partnerships and resources in Northern Kentucky. The Community Impact Fund relies on individual donors, business partnerships, and other support to bring grant opportunities to Northern Kentucky.
Information on the 2024 Community Impact Fund grant cycle will be available at the end of this year.
The community is encouraged to donate to the Community Impact Fund by:
Visiting www.horizonfunds.org
Mailing a check made payable to Horizon Community Funds (memo: NKY Coronavirus Relief Fund): 50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Suite 431, Covington, KY 41011
Additional supporting quotes:
Amy Jones, President and CEO of The Cincinnati Eye Institute: “We are so grateful for the confidence that Horizon Community Funds has placed in our mission to provide quality eye care to the underserved. The support will greatly impact the lives of our clients, and in some cases, it’s a life changing impact.”
Dr. Fernando Figueroa, President of Gateway Community and Technical College: “Gateway Community and Technical College is dedicated to helping students achieve bright futures through higher education. As part of our mission to remove barriers to student success, we provide non-academic support to students through The Food for Thought Pantry, which ensures that all students and their families have access to food and basic necessities as they pursue their better life. Through the support of the Community Impact Fund, we are able to champion our students when they are in need, and we anticipate serving hundreds of individuals in the upcoming semester. Thank you to Horizon Community Funds for your support.”
Elizabeth Benson, Executive Director of Leadership Council: "We are thrilled to have the chance to create a Northern Kentucky-focused version of our popular BOLD (Board Orientation + Leadership Development) program. Since 2019, 500 people representing 200 companies and organizations have graduated from the program, with an ever-diversifying participant base. Hundreds of them are serving on local boards and committees, better prepared to lead. We can't wait to focus on Northern Kentucky nonprofits and leaders."
Alecia Webb-Edgington, President and CEO of Life Learning Center: “With the funds received from this grant, our Peer Support team can deploy and insert themselves on-site with key employer partners. By being on-site, Peer Support Specialists can deliver Care services, counseling and other case management resources to the LLC Candidates and Members employed at the organization, ensuring their continued success. This program will also allow for a pipeline of referrals for individuals who are already employed but would benefit from the LLC education and care continuums.”
Jock Pitts, President of People Working Cooperatively: “The work we do at People Working Cooperatively really does require cooperation and support from partners and organizations whose missions align with ours. We are grateful for this grant from Horizon Community Funds which will support the critical and emergency home repairs and accessibility modifications we provide every day for low-income residents living in Northern Kentucky. These funds ensure we can keep more families living independently, healthily, safely and affordably in their homes."
Katie Jensen, Development & Marketing Director UpSpring: “We are so honored to receive this grant from Horizon Community Funds. This funding will help children experiencing homelessness in Northern Kentucky avoid the 'summer slide’ and have fun doing so! With this support, our students will be ready to return to school in the fall, both academically and emotionally. We are so grateful for all that Horizon does to support our community."