April 4, 2006 – The Drury Fund Selection Committee has chosen the recipients of the "Community Impact Grants" from Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. A total of $20,270 was awarded to individuals and organizations working to implement innovative projects in the areas of public education, children's well being or youth sports in St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John or Water Island, according to a press release from CFVI's President Dee Baecher-Brown.
The first of five groups to receive a grant is Boy Scout Troop 156, which received a $5,000 grant. The grant will help buy uniforms and equipment for the 14 boys, ages 12-14, who make up the troop.
$3,715 was awarded to the Garden School and the Eulalie Rivera Professional Development School in St. Croix for their Reading Enhancement Project that targets more than 40 elementary school children from kindergarten to fifth grade. This pilot program's goal is to improve the reading and comprehension skills of children from the areas of Mon Bijou and Grove, Frederiksted. The funds will be used to help cover the costs of supplies needed for the program.
The Michael J. Kirwan Terrace Youth Steel Orchestra, a project created by the Residents Council, received a grant of $2,025 that will benefit 20 participants, ages 8-18. The grant will be used to pay for an instructor and to purchase materials.
"Daddy, Read Me a Story," a Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility program was granted $4,530. This program will impact more than 60 inmates and their children. It hopes to foster and strengthen parent-child relationships by encouraging active participation in learning activities and improving inmate literacy skills. Educational materials and supplies for the inmate literacy program and for their children will be purchased with the grant money received.
The Ministerio Evangelístico El Es Inc. received a grant of $5,000 for their Christian Family Center Teen Outreach Program. The focus of the project is to provide workshops and activities for Hispanic youth to help them successfully deal with health and developmental issues. The grant will help pay for the activities, seminars and the English as a Second Language classes.
Last year, CFVI provided more than $1.25 million in grants, scholarships and program support in the United States Virgin Islands.
CFVI accepts donations year round; if you would like information on how to make a contribution to your community, call CFVI at 774-6031.