The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, in its 50th year, has awarded $585,275.00 to 19 non-profit organizations. These grants, determined during the annual meeting of the Board of Directors, held at the Radisson Hotel City Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, October 10, 2004, have been awarded to support worthwhile projects and disseminate information about them to the general public and specific target groups. The following is a brief summary of the grants awarded for 2005:
American Liver Foundation of New York, NY was awarded $40,500 for their project entitled “Jaundice Alert: Pediatric Liver Disease Awareness Campaign.” This grant will produce and distribute educational materials for parents and health care professionals to improve early identification of newborns at risk of pediatric liver disease
Children’s Hospital Foundation of Omaha, NE was awarded $14,200 for their project entitled “Hearing Impairment: Early Identification – Early Intervention.” This grant will disseminate hearing impairment training programs to all pediatricians and family practitioners in Nebraska, South Dakota, Western Iowa, Northern Kansas and Northwest Missouri to aid in identification and intervention efforts.
Children’s Organ Transplant Association of Bloomington, IN was awarded $40,000 for their project entitled “Saving Kids Lives for a Healthier Tomorrow.” The components for this project include the continuation of the registration program for organ donors and a nation-wide effort to inform the public about the need for organ and bone marrow donors. The American Legion Auxiliary, The Sons of The American Legion and Eight and Forty sponsors this grant.
Christian Community Inc. of Fort Wayne, IN was awarded $30,000 for their project entitled “CONNECTIONS: Parents Talking to Children and Teens about Health.” This grant will create pamphlets designed to aid parents in talking with their elementary, middle and high school age children about health issues.
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) Foundation, Inc. of Avon, CT was awarded $24,750 for their project entitled “Diagnosis Now.” The Foundation will utilize their publication “Reaching Out,” to inform families and professionals across the nation of current research discoveries and innovative ways to diagnose the presence of the syndrome.
Family Forward of Austin, TX was awarded $30,000 for their project entitled “Safe Parenting Program for Survivors of Domestic Violence.” This grant will produce and distribute the Safe Parenting curriculum to domestic violence professionals nationwide to improve the parenting skills of battered women. The Sons of The American Legion sponsors this grant.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness of Owing Mills, MD was awarded $20,000 for their project entitled “Making the World a Brighter Place for your Blind Child” This grant will focus on print materials while still advancing the “Kid’s Corner” website.
Huntington’s Disease Society of America of New York, NY was awarded $23,000 for their project entitled “Education and the Child Affected by Juvenile Onset HD.” This grant will fund creation of a special two-part series on Education and the Child Affected by Juvenile Onset HD that would appear in the HDSA national publication, The Marker. Reprints of this series would be sent free of charge with an HDSA brochure about juvenile onset HD to all elementary, middle, junior and high schools with a child affected by juvenile onset HD.
Immune Deficiency Foundation of Towson, MD was awarded $42,500 for their project entitled “Primary Immune Deficiency Disease: A guide for School Personnel.” This grant will fund the development of a new booklet to improve the diagnosis and treatment of primary immune deficiency diseases. The American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons of The American Legion sponsor this grant.
International Rett Syndrome Association of Clinton, MD was awarded $34,000 for their project entitled “Circles of Angels DVD.” This grant will create an easy to use communication tool that can tell as many people as possible about what Rett Syndrome is, who it affects and how they can make a difference in this awareness campaign. The Sons of The American Legion sponsor this grant.
Kids in Danger of Chicago, IL was awarded $15,000 for their project entitled “Safe from the Start.” This grant will fund Safe from the Start, a national network of health and safety organizations, to educate parents and caregivers about product hazards. The Sons of The American Legion sponsor this grant
KidsPeace, Inc. of Orefield, PA was awarded $60,000 for their project entitled “State of America’s Children.” This grant will publish and disseminate a detailed report outlining the issues that America’s children face. The intent is to provide those individuals in the position to promote change with a framework that will guide future action and legislation to accurately and appropriately respond to the needs of our nation’s future. The Sons of The American Legion sponsor this grant.
National Environmental Education & Training Foundation of Washington, DC was awarded $24,825 for their project entitled “Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma: Guidelines for Pediatric Health Care Providers.” This grant will produce 11,300 sets of guidelines and an environmental history taking form about the environmental management of pediatric asthma to pediatric physicians and nurses. The Eight and Forty sponsor this grant.
National Marfan Foundation of Port Washington, NY was awarded $25,000 for their project entitled “NMF ‘Teens in Touch’ Handbook.” This grant will develop, produce and disseminate 10,000 copies of a new “Teens in Touch” handbook. This handbook is designed to help teens with the Marfan syndrome and related disorders effectively cope with the emotional and physical challenges they face in dealing with this chronic and potentially life-threatening genetic condition.
Organization for Autism Research of Arlington, VA was awarded $23,045 for their project entitled “ Creation and Publication of An Educator’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome.” This grant will fund the creation and publication of An Educator’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome, a resource guide to be used by educators and school administrators in public and private schools throughout the United States.
The Pennsylvania State University of University Park, PA was awarded $26,250 for their project entitled “Putting YOUTH Back into Sports Dissemination Project.” This grant will fund the distribution of the Putting YOUTH Back into Sports curriculum to county-based Cooperative Extension Educators (4-H Youth Development Educators and Family and Consumer Science Educators). The Sons of The American Legion sponsor this grant.
S.A.F.E.T.Y. – Substance Abuse Foundation Educating Today’s Youth of Phoenix, AZ was awarded $33,940 for their project entitled ”All America Sam Celebrates America.” All American Sam Celebrates America is designed for 3rd & 4th grade children to help them gain a new awareness of our Flag, the Pledge, our Veterans and our Freedoms. The Sons of The American Legion Sponsor this grant.
Spina Bifida Association of America of Washington, DC was awarded $35,000 for their project entitled “KidZone Newsletter.” The newsletter will consist of a 4-page, bimonthly issue that features word puzzles, games, quizzes and a special column for children living with spina bifida to share their own stories.
YMCA National Safe Place of Louisville, KY was awarded $43,265 for their project entitled “National Safe Place – Do you know how to keep children safe?” The initial goal of the program is to increase awareness of Safe Place resources among youth aged 10 to 17 through the use of public service announcements in middle and high schools across the country. The Sons of The American Legion sponsor this grant.