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The Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF) awarded $189,615 in grants to 24 River Region nonprofits that support family and wellness initiatives in Montgomery, Lowndes, Macon, Autauga and Elmore counties on Monday, May 20, at 10 a.m. at the MAP Center.

The Family, Food, and Medical Grants being awarded are part of the Family Wellness and Education Grant Cycle that CACF manages. Funds from these grants will go directly toward assisting many within these communities. 

The Society of St. Andrew was awarded $6,500 to provide packing and transportation costs for a large crop-drop distribution that will result in about 120,000 servings of produce to nonprofit providers in Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery counties

Listed below are some of the other nonprofit organizations receiving grants from CACF at the May 20 grant ceremony. 

Family Grants 

• $5,500 to CASA of the River Region – to support CASA’s recruitment and training of volunteers to pair as advocates with children referred by the Montgomery County Family Court 
• $9,620 to Life on Wheels – to purchase evidence-based educational materials needed for one year for the agency’s education of pregnant clients on the importance of prenatal care and referrals to insurance, nutritional resources, and medical services 
• $6,356 to Mental Health America, Montgomery – to support the program coordinator and field trip costs for the Psychosocial Clubhouse, which provides clients with serious mental health diagnoses with a support system and social opportunities
• $6,900 to Ostara Initiative – to provide 62 doula visits for pregnant women in Tutwiler Prison

Food Grants

• $8,218 to MBA (Montgomery Baptist Association) Community Ministries, Inc. – to provide one year of weekly meals for 50 homeless clients who will also receive case management services, weekend meals, and referrals to other support services
• $10,832 to Meals on Wheels Montgomery AL Metro Area – to provide the meal costs for 242 serving days for six senior citizens participating in the Northern Route Meals on Wheels 

• $5,000.00 to Young Men on a Mission – to support the operation of a West Montgomery community garden that provides fresh produce and eggs for elderly residents and hosts free monthly community garden events 

Medical Grants

• $8,516 to Medical Outreach Ministries – to support the costs of providing free medications for uninsured, low-income adult clients in Montgomery County 
• $22,000 to the Shorter Fire Auxiliary – to purchase a medical monitor for EMS field use on all medical and accident calls by the Shorter Volunteer Fire Department that will provide CPR quality in real time, noninvasive blood pressure measurement, multi-lead ECG, pulse oximeter, and defibrillator capabilities

Technical Assistance Grants 

• $2,500 to CASA of the River Region – to contract with a media firm to develop a branding campaign and implement a social media strategy 
• $2,500.00 to Embrace Alabama Kids – to replace two outdated laptops for Mary Ellen’s Hearth staff to use in case management and administrative activities

For over 37 years, the Central Alabama Community Foundation has been a valued community partner and resource for nonprofits and students in the River Region and Wiregrass. Through the generous support of individual and corporate donors, the foundation provides over $5 million in grants and scholarships each year that meet diverse community needs, supporting programs and projects in education, human services, health, cultural arts, and other civic concerns. Our mission is to create a better quality of life for those who live and work in the River Region for many years to come. 

For more information, visit www.cacfinfo.org.