Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors votes for June grants

The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $102,756 in grants during their June meeting, including $99,256 to organizations and $3,500 to an individual in need.

Organizational Grant Recipients:

$5,000 to Camp Glisson's "Sparrowwood" summer program, a week-long camping experience in Dahlonega for persons with mild to moderate developmental challenges that gives campers an opportunity for social interaction and provides their respite caregivers relief from their work. Funds will be used for scholarships for those who cannot afford the camp.

$5,000 to Gwinnett Council for the Arts' smART Honors Program, an ongoing program that enables 30 at-risk students who excel in art but are otherwise underserved to attend advanced art instruction at the Hudgens Arts Center each Saturday morning throughout the school year. Funds will be used to purchase art supplies for the smART scholarship recipients.

$12,266 to Jones Elementary School in Gainesville to purchase a new sound system, microphones, curtain and projection screen for the school's gymnasium. The items will better enable the school to host assemblies that expose students to visual arts, music, drama, dance and character building programs, as well as encourage parental involvement through PTO.

$15,000 to Rainbow Children's Home, an emergency shelter for abused and neglected children in Dahlonega, to build a low ropes course and provide the support staff needed to work with the children for these interventions. Low ropes courses help to develop communication, leadership and teamwork skills as well as self-confidence, self-esteem and trust.

$1,990 to Reins of Life, a therapeutic equine facility in Lavonia, to help fund the STRIDES (Stepping Toward Results In Developing Equine and Educational Success) program that provides emotional and behavioral help to at-risk youth who have been expelled from school and are dealing with behavioral issues, ADD, relationship problems, anger management issues and self control.

$15,000 to Salvation Army of Athens to assist with family emergency assistance for rent, clothing vouchers and medical prescriptions, as well as breakfast, sack lunch and supper for transitional housing program participants and those served by the soup kitchen for breakfast and supper.

$15,000 to Salvation Army of Gainesville to assist with family emergency assistance for rent, clothing vouchers and medical prescriptions, as well as breakfast, sack lunch and supper for transitional housing program participants and those served by the soup kitchen for breakfast and supper.

$15,000 to Salvation Army of Lawrenceville to assist with family emergency assistance for rent, clothing vouchers and medical prescriptions.

$15,000 to Winder/Barrow YMCA to provide scholarships for 20 underprivileged students currently on a waiting list for the 2006-2007 after school program, PrYme Tyme. The afterschool program provides children from kindergarten to 8th grade with activities including homework, sports, games, arts, crafts, songs, skits, daily devotions, and more. The program focuses on five key character development traits of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith.

Individual Grant Recipients:

$3,500 to a single mother who found employment, but had no transportation or access to public transportation, to assist her in finding personal transportation.