Grant Awards Since JRF was founded in 2013, we have awarded nearly $24 million in grants to 120+ community organizations. New Grants Awarded: Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Updated June 2024 Civic Engagement in the Mon Valley 1Hood Media Academy, Inc. $75,000 Amplify the voices of residents in McKeesport, Duquesne, and Clairton by organizing and educating community leaders on civic engagement practices and registering new voters to highlight the specific needs of Mon Valley communities, which are often focused on the social determinants of health. Community Health Planning Grant Allegheny Health Network $125,000 Build capacity to design a program implementation plan that increases the health and well-being of Jefferson residents by incorporating community voice, leveraging best practices and national models, analyzing existing data, and partnering with universities, nonprofit organizations, and Jefferson Hospital leadership. Digital Equity for Older Adults and Building Organizational Capacity Anna Middleton Waite Learning Center $50,000 Provide older adults the necessary tools to engage in the digital world by providing education, personal computers, and technical support, and build organizational capacity through developing an action plan with the assistance of a strategic consultant. Community in Motion Attack Theatre Incorporated $55,000 Support educational engagement, physical and mental well-being, and social-emotional development for approximately 400 Duquesne K-5 students and educators/curriculum providers through movement and dance in partnership with Duquesne City School District. Summer 2024 OST Best of the Batch Foundation $20,000 Provide in-person programming for youth in summer 2024. Championing Social/Emotional Youth Development and Empowering Families Beverly’s Birthdays $50,000 Provide support and opportunity to Jefferson women and parents/caregivers experiencing financial hardship during pregnancy and through the early years of a child’s life by offering tangible supplies such as food, clothing, and equipment and offering linkages to other community partners via referrals. Supplies are offered through birthday parties, community baby showers, a mobile truck, and the newly formed Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank. Afterschool Funding Support Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh $10,000 Support the operation of afterschool programs for immigrant and refugee children. Summer 2024 OST Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh $16,000 Provide in-person programming for youth in summer 2024. Building Civic Engagement Power for Black Women Black Women’s Policy Center, Inc. $150,000 Improve the health and wellness of Black women living in McKeesport, Duquesne, Clairton, West Mifflin, and Homestead and share their lived experience by offering support and coaching through system navigation, connection to resources, advocacy on shaping public policy, and training and education. Youth Programming, Community Engagement, and Building Rehabilitation Cash For Kids $55,000 Engage 30-40 youth ages 9-14 from McKeesport to participate in out-of-school time programming to promote fitness, nutrition, college aspirations, social development, and overall health and wellness and provide capacity for community convenings on the potential of a new community space. Meals on Wheels of Elizabeth Forward (MoW of EF) Central Highlands Community United Methodist Church $15,000 Increase health and well-being by providing food to medically comprised neighbors of all ages in Elizabeth Township, Elizabeth Borough, Forward Township, West Elizabeth, and portions of Jefferson Hills and West Mifflin through distributions every weekday. Legal Assistance for Immigrants and Refugees Christian Immigration Advocacy Center $50,000 Provide legal aid to 50 immigrants and refugees living in the Jefferson footprint for permanent resident card applications and renewals, citizenship, and family petitions. These services position families to access resources to improve long-term health and well-being. Food and Financial Assistance Cloverleaf Area Ecumenical Assistance Program $15,000 Increase health and well-being by providing basic needs (food and financial assistance) to neighbors in Pleasant Hills, Jefferson Hills, Baldwin, Whitehall, and West Mifflin through distributions every other week at Triumph of the Holy Cross Baldwin Parish. Housing and Supplemental Support Community Human Services Corporation $50,000 Decrease homelessness, increase income stabilization, and increase quality of housing for up to 100 individuals/families within the Jefferson area by leveraging existing Allegheny County housing assistance and providing additional supplemental support. Mobile Services Workforce Development Events Dress for Success Pittsburgh $125,000 Increase the confidence and capacity of 825 local female residents preparing to enter the workforce by providing each woman with appropriate interview clothing, uniform items, and career support delivered through a mobile boutique in partnership with Jefferson area organizations. Strategic Development for Expansion First Step Recovery Homes, Inc. $10,000 Provide operational support and enable screening and securing of a qualified capital consultant to assist in raising dollars for an organizational expansion. Operating Support for Addiction Recovery Home First Step Recovery Homes, Inc. $60,000 Support operations to provide supervised, temporary, safe, drug and alcohol free, structured housing and support services for over 40 people (typically men) who are recovering from the disease of addiction and trying to stay out of the criminal justice system. Operating and Capacity Support for Addiction Recovery Home First Step Recovery Homes, Inc. $60,000 Support operations to provide supervised, temporary, safe, drug and alcohol free, structured housing and support services for over 60 people (typically men) who are recovering from the disease of addiction and build organizational capacity and long-term sustainability through the assistance of a capital consultant. Rapid Response Funding to Support Jefferson Families Footbridge for Families, Inc $140,000 Assist approximately 51 Jefferson residents/families during times of short-term financial crisis and provide connections to additional supports through an innovative technology platform which facilitates rapid financial response to vendors. Providing Safety in Inclement Weather Forward Township Volunteer Fire Company $20,000 Increase health and well-being for older adults and families in Forward Township by purchasing a generator to create a warming and cooling station during inclement weather when frequent electrical outings occur. Program Optimization Initiative Gwen’s Girls Incorporated $75,000 Increase overall health and wellness for youth, with an emphasis on Black girls and families in McKeesport, Clairton, and Duquesne, through program evaluation, growth, and expansion based on community need and best practices, with a particular focus on expanding workforce education and development. HVLI Healthy Eating Program Healthy Village Learning Institute $20,000 Increase the health and well-being of McKeesport youth and young adults experiencing food insecurity by providing meals/snacks five days per week Tuesday-Saturday during out-of-school time programs. Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Services Hello Neighbor $25,000 Increase the health and wellness of refugee families living in Jefferson communities by supporting the reception and placement program, which works to improve refugee cultural and community integration through assistance with housing, education, jobs, language, and navigating American systems. Operating Support to Promote Health and Well-Being Human Services Center Corporation $75,000 Through general operational support, strengthen HSCMV’s ability to provide successful transitions to career and college for high school seniors attending West Mifflin and McKeesport high schools, assist adults on the path to self-sufficiency, and provide basic services for health and well-being. Community Training Center Equipment Jefferson Hills Area Ambulance Association (Southeast Regional EMS) $20,000 Increase the opportunity to train local first responders and offer community trainings through the purchase of two adult, one child, and one baby training manikins, replacement parts which will be needed from repeated use, and an AED for the community training center. Increased Capacity in Emergencies Jefferson Hills Fire/Rescue $20,000 Increase the opportunity to save Jefferson residents’ lives from cardiac arrest through the purchase of a LUCAS Device, a mechanical chest compression device, to be used in a Quick Response vehicle serving Jefferson Hills, Pleasant Hills, Clairton, West Elizabeth, West Mifflin, and South Park. While Jefferson Hills Fire/Rescue does not transfer patients, 85% of those served by EMS are transported to Jefferson Hospital. Achieving Together for Long-Term Economic Opportunity Junior Achievement of Western PA $25,000 Increase foundational skills and exposure to careers for 1,700 kids through career readiness and financial literacy programs at Bethel Park, Steel Valley, and West Mifflin schools to impact long-term economic opportunity. Building Capacity for Organizational Development LaRosa Youth Development Foundation $100,000 Build organizational capacity by hiring part-time staff, offering professional development, purchasing program supplies, and engaging in strategic planning, including the creation of formal policies and procedures for operations to support continued growth and sustainability. SOY Pittsburgh in McKeesport Latino Community Center $100,000 Increase the health, wellness, and educational outcomes of Latinx youth in grades K-5 in partnership with Francis McClure Elementary School in McKeesport by offering an eight-week summer camp and an afterschool program in 2024-2025 through culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and bilingual support. Basic Needs and Capacity-Building Life Builders $30,000 Provide operating support to deliver basic needs to individuals/families in South Park and surrounding communities and engage consultants on strategic planning and data tracking software to plan and adjust for the organization’s rapid growth due to increased food insecurity experienced by residents of South Park and increased referrals made to the organization via the social workers at the local school district. Bridging the Gap from Learning to Earning Literacy Pittsburgh $100,000 Foster a lifetime of success for Jefferson adult learners by expanding employment opportunities through career pathways in construction and healthcare, improving employment and educational outcomes for caretakers and their children, and imparting vital digital skills. The Village Project: Building Collaborative Capacity for Youth Development in Three School Districts McKeesport Area School District $80,000 Collaborate between McKeesport, Duquesne, and Clairton school districts to increase the health and well-being of youth by addressing challenges within schools and across the education system through integrating the local community with students’ daily learning experience. Youth and Family Support Melting Pot Ministries $150,000 Support positive development for youth and their caregivers in South Park, Baldwin-Whitehall, and Bethel Park by providing out-of-school time programming (afterschool and summer) focused on educational, social-emotional, and cultural life challenges. Summer 2024 OST Melting Pot Ministries $20,000 Provide in-person programming for youth in summer 2024. Capacity Building and Addressing Food Insecurity MISSION: AGAPE $30,000 Increase the health and well-being of McKeesport, Versailles, Glassport, Elizabeth, Clairton, Dravosburg, and Duquesne residents experiencing food insecurity through regular food distributions and engage a consultant to build organizational capacity and meet community need. Eliminating Illegal Trash Dumping to Increase Public Health PA CleanWays of Allegheny County Inc $40,000 Engage and empower residents of McKeesport, Clairton, West Mifflin, Forward Twp, and Elizabeth Twp. to eliminate illegal dumping by participating in community cleaning of illegal dumpsites and creating a citizen justice program in each community comprised of 2-5 people who can speak about environmental justice issues with government officials, media, and other community groups. Transit Civic Engagement Pittsburghers for Public Transit $30,000 Assist Jefferson residents in accessing critical health, education, and food sites by organizing transit riders and workers to develop and advocate for transit funding solutions. Civic Engagement, Storytelling, and Journalism PublicSource, Inc $40,000 Increase Jefferson organizations’ and residents’ understanding of civic engagement by providing resources and six educational workshops on community engagement/storytelling taught by experienced journalists and draw attention to the Jefferson area by highlighting 15 stories, which may include first-person essays. Promoting Early Literacy Reading Ready Pittsburgh $35,000 Strive to impact long-term educational and health outcomes by supporting engagement of early literacy in families with young children. Prevention Live Theater Plays for Middle and High Schools Saltworks Theatre Company $15,000 Increase awareness and knowledge about the truths and consequences of unhealthy decisions related to prescription drugs, e-cigarettes, and the overuse of social media for hundreds of Jefferson area middle and high school students and teachers through live theater productions. SHIM Center Accessibility Upgrades & Building Improvements South Hills Interfaith Ministries $150,000 Provide capital support to ensure long-term operations and create a safer and more welcoming environment at SHIM Center for staff, volunteers, and South Hills individuals and families facing suburban poverty. Summer 2024 OST South Hills Interfaith Ministries $10,000 Provide in-person summer programming with hands-on and social and emotional learning opportunities for youth in kindergarten through high school in summer 2024. Computer Science Education for Duquesne Students STEM Coding Lab, Inc. $70,000 Provide economic mobility opportunities, which could lead to long-term increased overall health and wellness for 175 Duquesne City School District students through an introduction and instruction in computer science. Providing Essential School Supplies to Promote Learning Storehouse for Teachers dba The Education Partnership $100,000 Improve the long-term overall health and well-being and educational outcomes of students attending five schools in Clairton, Duquesne, and McKeesport by providing new, essential school supply kits to all students, as well as delivering 286 teachers classroom supplies. South Showroom: West Mifflin Location The Blessing Board $75,000 Increase the quality of life and overall health and wellness for families and individuals experiencing low-income status living in the Jefferson Regional service area by supporting the operations and sustainability of a furniture/durable medical equipment bank in West Mifflin. Out-of-School Time Youth Programming The Dragon’s Den $120,000 Build self-confidence, trust, and sociability of Jefferson school-age youth and develop deeper community engagement in Homestead by offering after school programs and summer camps using the challenge course and zip line in the historic St. Mary Magdalene church. Summer 2024 OST The Dragon’s Den $35,000 Provide in-person programming for youth in summer 2024. Workforce Development and Financial Coaching The Mon Valley Initiative $125,000 Assist unemployed and under-employed Jefferson residents in achieving their goals of financial self-sufficiency through offering a comprehensive workforce development program. Human Service Integration Fund The Pittsburgh Foundation $50,000 Support the continuation of a flexible, foundation-supported fund to strengthen human service delivery and address social determinants of health by creating efficiencies in response systems and service delivery through the Allegheny County Dept. of Human Services that are not possible with government funding sources. Water Quality and Well-Being Three Rivers Waterkeeper $30,000 Provide opportunities to listen to concerns from community advisors around water quality and offer educational resources focused on watersheds and waterways to mitigate the impact of industrial pollution. Cultural Access for Youth Development Tickets for Kids Foundation $16,000 Increase access to cultural experiences which can contribute to a holistic approach of well-being and can introduce new interests and opportunities for 4,000 youth experiencing low-income status. Welcome Back Summer 2024 United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania $200,000 Provide in-person summer programming with hands-on and social and emotional learning opportunities for youth in kindergarten through high school by managing and implementing a collaborative funding model. Outdoors for All Venture Outdoors, Inc. $75,000 Continue to engage Jefferson youth, mentors, and volunteers in outdoor activity through targeted programming promoting health and wellness and offer teens a mentorship/ internship program to explore outdoor careers. Supporting Veteran Health Through Storytelling and Connection Veterans Breakfast Club $60,000 Support local veterans and their mental health by facilitating local, in-person storytelling events in the Jefferson area (six in Bethel Park and two in the Mon Valley) and supporting broad outreach efforts including a veteran focused magazine, newsletter, podcast, and online programs. Vision Resources for Children Vision To Learn $75,000 Increase the health and school engagement of children in Jefferson communities in partnership with school districts and community partners by offering vision exams to a maximum of 1,000 children and glasses to 800 children. Access to Diaper and Hygiene Supplies Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank $80,000 Improve the health and well-being of Jefferson families in need by expanding access to free diapers and other essentials through Jefferson partner organizations. Global Youth Programming World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh $40,000 Foster empathy, strengthen peer support, and increase cultural understanding through youth-led after-school programming connecting locally born youth and teens who are immigrants or the children of immigrants in partnership with Baldwin-Whitehall, Brentwood, and West Jefferson Hills school districts. Summer 2024 OST Youth Opportunities Development $25,000 Provide in-person programming for youth in summer 2024. Past Grant Awards Grants awarded in 2023-2024 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2022-2023, includes Community Voice Fund grants (PDF) Grants awarded in 2021-2022 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2020-2021 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2019-2020 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2018-2019 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2017-2018 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2016-2017 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2015-2016 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2014-2015 (PDF) Grants awarded in 2013-2014 (PDF)