Grant Initiative Fundraising Team

Identifying service gaps for populations within our community and, through GIFT grant, fill many underfunded after-hours music and arts, sports, and academic programs within our community. 

The GIFT Program has become our Community Giving Club, where groups benefit from funding opportunities and more importantly collaborate to share their gifts and talents with other groups. To receive a grant from this program, Project(s)/Program(s) which funds are requested for must directly benefit the citizens of the Virginia Peninsula of Hampton Roads. Also, your organization must be a 501(c)3 or public school organization or other non-profit organization that the Board deems a community benefit.

Creating Opportunities to Advance Capable Hands

Supporting and including adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community through facilitating access to volunteer opportunities by providing site coaching services.

The benefits of this program are creating a more inclusive community which is able to benefit from the gifts and skills of these individuals, who are typically over looked and marginalized in communities.  Additionally, this program helps these individuals develop skills and soft skills, as well as improve self-confidence and self-esteem so they can be more active and productive in our community. Barriers to engagement are removed and volunteer participants learn to use their voice to advocate for their needs. Coaches who volunteer alongside participants also grow their skills and gain experience providing accommodations to adults with disabilities. They both grow individually and together as friendships bloom.

Readiness for Employment to Advance Developing Youth

Supporting and including high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community through facilitating access to employment opportunities by providing Skills trainers and mentorship.

The benefits of this program are creating a more inclusive community which is able to tap into highly capable and motivated workforce, who have a lot of passion but just need someone to give them an opportunity to excel.  Additionally, this program helps these individuals develop a resume, work skills, and soft skills, as well as improve self-confidence and self-esteem. Barriers to engagement are removed and student participants create relationships with area businesses. Skills Trainers who work alongside participants also grow their skills and gain experience providing accommodations to teens with disabilities. They both grow individually and together as friendships bloom. Area businesses gain two employees during the work placement, and are able to increase their productivity.