NAILBA Perspectives - October 2016 - 28

nailba charitable foundation Meet the 2016 Grant Recipients A MICHAEL T. SMITH PRESIDENT, NAILBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION 28 perspectives OCTOBER 2016 ugust was the month for the annual gathering of the NAILBA Charitable Foundation Grant Review Committee. The Committee is a different group each year, chaired by NAILBA's Secretary/ Treasurer. This year's chair, Jeff Mooers, organized a great committee who agreed to meet in Omaha, Nebraska, where Mutual of Omaha graciously hosted the group at their headquarters. Committee members Andrea D'Aoust, Trish DeDolce, John Gilbert, Varsha Grogan, and Mutual's own Bill Vigliotte, worked diligently the week before the face-to-face meeting, reviewing and ranking the more than 30 grant applications we received. All the organizations were deemed worthy, but not all the programs could be supported. Tough decisions were made, and I am pleased and honored to present to you this year's class of grant recipients. Alexander Leigh Center for Autism, Crystal Lake, IL, sponsored by Bill Bovinette, Life Guys, Inc., was awarded $25,000, this year's Felton Grant, to support their Apartment for Life Skills program. The Center provides a fullday, year-round school program for children with various autism spectrum disorders and other multiple disabilities. These funds will support their transition program for 18- to 21-year olds by building an apartment to be used to train life skills for participating in home and community settings as a next step toward student independence. Caruso Family Charities, Lakewood, CO, sponsored by James T. Bell, Ward T. Bell & Associates, was awarded a $20,000 grant to support their Funding Families Program. This funding will provide financial assistance for families who have a child suffering from cancer or other life threatening diseases. Partnering with other local organizations, CFC helps families pay living expenses, travel costs associated with caring for a sick child, insurance co-pays, etc. Promises 2 Kids, San Diego, CA, sponsored by Steve Sublett, CBIZ Life Insurance Solutions, was awarded a $20,000 grant to support their Camp Connect Program. Promises 2 Kids partners with Health and Human Services Agency of San Diego County to provide foster children with the opportunity to reconnect with separated siblings via a four-day camp and other activities throughout the year. CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services, Clifton Park, NY, sponsored by Kevin Johnson, New YorkNational Long Term Care Brokers, was awarded a $15,000 grant to support their Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter. Grant funds will cover costs involved in necessary housing rehab costs to provide a safe haven for at risk teens with no other shelter opportunities available to them. Children's Cancer Association, Portland, OR, sponsored by Kevin Merz, The Merz Agency, was awarded a $15,000 grant to support their Chemo Pal Mentor Program. The grant will be used to offset costs of the mentor match program, which provides trained adult mentors for seriously ill children and teens to help ease the hardship of treatment through community events and activities, and hospital-approved toys and supplies. Downtown Ministries, Athens, GA, sponsored by Chad Milner, The Milner Agency, was awarded a $13,400 grant to support their New Football Equipment for the Downtown Falcons. The team's focus is on children from at risk communities where nearly one in three fail to complete high school. Previous NAILBA Foundation funding replaced half the team's equipment, and now the other half is outdated or unsafe. Grant funds will be used entirely to replace equipment and uniforms. Rainbows For Kids, St. Louis, MO, sponsored by Alan Protzel, The Marketing Alliance, was awarded a $12,000 grant to support several projects. Project Hospital Holiday Tree provides small bedside lighted Christmas trees or Menorahs to children with cancer who are in the hospital around the holidays. Rainbows for Kids Baseball Team needed funds for baseball uniforms, trophies, and concession stand food for the All-Star Game. Grant funds will also be used for reprinting a book that supports families devastated from just learning their child has cancer or if the child has passed away. Arkansas Childrens Hospital, Little Rock, AR, sponsored by Luke Ramsey, The ASA Group, was awarded a $10,400 grant to support their Beads of Courage program. Child life specialists, along with other members of the medical teams, use Beads of Courage as a tool to help patients cope with some of the most difficult aspects of hospital-

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NAILBA Perspectives - October 2016