Grant Writing Class 2014
Music for the intellectually Disabled
Student Alex Rhee collaborated with the community partner Homes for Hope to bring concerts and performances to the residents who live in the agency’s homes. They asked for $500, where $200 will go toward organizing a mini-concert performance from the Illinois Wesleyan Jazz ensemble and $300 to buying tickets for the residents to watch the Illinois Symphony Orchestra at the Bloomington Performing Arts Center. Best Buddies has also joined in this work by having dinner with the residents. 
Bookmarks – Books for Kids in Need
Wesleyan Student Nicole Pierce wrote a grant for First Book-McLean County, a community partner that has provided book grants to local tutoring, mentoring and literacy programs in McLean County for 13 years. She helped them to request bookmarks for the books each child receives. The organizations goal is to provide each child in need with 12 books every year. Illinois Wesleyan’s Printing and Mailing Services is even helping out by providing the design for the bookmarks.
NeighborWorks Week Block Party
IWU student Veronica Watson partnered with Mid Central Community Action and The West Bloomington Revitalization Project to request $500 to hold a block party for the West Bloomington residents. This will serve as a conclusion to NeighborWorks Week programming and a celebration of the beginning of summer. Materials from the Tool Library will be used to make this event happen. This block party allows residents to form stronger relationships with their neighbors while providing safe activities for kids. They hope to expand this program to have more residents-lead developments
Garden for the Intellectually Disabled
IWU Senior Biology major Manish Mandeva partnered with the Home for Hope organization that provides community housing for the intellectually disabled when their care takers can no longer provide for them. 2-6 individuals and professional staff live in a normal house in a normal neighborhood. Much like any other adult, residents of each home come from different backgrounds, have various responsibilities, and are on track to achieve ambitious long term life goals. The desire to improve one’s property and cultivate the land is a desire of all homeowners. The residents want to implement a raised garden bed in their home. This can help them come together to gain lessons in home improvement, nutrition, and wellness. Manish and Homes for Hope requested $500 for the garden and hold a workshop to teach all community members about the positives of having a garden.
After-school Program Kick-off Event
IWU student Melissa Ramirez partnered with Western Avenue Community Center’s After School Program to apply for $500 to launch a beginning of the year Kick-off event where participating students of the After-school Program and their families are incited to celebrate literature and receive school starter its. This will include 35-40 students and their families. The Spanish and Latino Student Association from IWU will collaborate in helping with the event as well. The purpose for his program is to prepare and motivate low-income, at risk students to a new academic year and have them acquire materials necessary for school. Books given by the First Book grant will also be provided for students to take home and add to their personal libraries.
Promoting Health and the Environment: A Garden for Youth
IWU student Kristina Dolak worked with Boys and Girls Club to request $500 to build a Green Wall pilot program. The Club plans on using the money towards purchasing a freestanding vertical garden, seeds, and soil. The IWU Peace Garden and Green Top Grocery will lend a hand in building the garden as well as aid in planting the club’s first seeds. Volunteers from these groups will teach the BGCBN’s young members how to take care of the plants and the importance of eating healthy. Members of all ages will nurture the garden and watch it grow. The BGCBN plans to use this this as a trial for implementing a larger garden if there is enough interest and support for the Green Wall pilot. By doing his, they hope to further the health of the youth at the club.
