One of the most innovative ways United Way of the Mid-South empowers community efforts to improve education, financial stability, and health is through the Catalyst Fund grant, which has provided over $938,000 to support the start-up or expansion of promising community collaborative efforts for long-term solutions to important community issues since its creation in late 2012.
United Way recently awarded four Catalyst Fund grants:
- $50,000 Grant Award for 3rd Grade Reading: This funding will expand the number of children participating in summer reading programs with a goal of stopping the pattern of summer learning loss. Partners include Literacy Mid-South, Agape, Hooks Dimmick Child Care, Knowledge Quest, Memphis Athletic Ministries, Memphis Teacher Residency, Miriam Child Development Center, Seeding Success, and YMCA.
- $60,000 Grant Award for Shelby County Healthy Homes Partnership: This Healthy Homes partnership is a coordinated plan of action to improve environmental health in homes of children and families with health needs, particularly as they relate to asthma. Partners include Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-Being, University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, City of Memphis Neighborhood Improvement/Code Enforcement, City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development, Community Development Council of Greater Memphis, Shelby County Health Department, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-Being, Memphis Area Legal Services, Memphis Bioworks Foundation and Urban Land Institute – Memphis.
- $100,000 Grant Award for Fayette County Child Advocacy Center: This is start-up funding to help establish a child advocacy center in Fayette County. Child advocacy centers are proven to be a successful model of working with children who have experienced severe child abuse. The lead partner is the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center.
- $26,250 Grant Award for the Domestic Violence Coordinated System of Care – Transitional & Supportive Housing. Funding will be used for grant writing services to secure resources needed to expand the availability of transitional housing for domestic violence victims. Partners include Agape Child & Family Services, Family Safe Center (co-lead agency), City of Memphis, Community Alliance for the Homeless, District Attorney General, Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Government and Exchange Club Family Center.
United Way will accept letters of interest for the next round of catalyst grants through Sept. 15, 2016. Priority will be given to collaboratives proposing to reduce our community’s poverty and/or support United Way’s “Driving The Dream” initiative. For information about submitting a letter of interest, click here (information will download in a new tab).