CWF awards $640,395 in grants for 2016

In its 61st year, The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation (CWF) has awarded $640,395 in grants to 24 nonprofit organizations. The grant recipients were selected by CWF’s Board of Directors on Oct. 11 during their annual fall meeting in Indianapolis. The recipients have been awarded the grants to support youth-serving projects that seek to enhance the lives of children by addressing their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.

The following is a brief summary of the grants awarded for 2016.

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Washington, D.C., was awarded $19,300 for its project, “Pediatric Outreach Training Program.” This grant will provide 500 health-care professionals with information on the impact of early hearing intervention and how to assist families who choose a listening and spoken language outcome for their child.

All Children’s Hospital Foundation Johns Hopkins Medicine of St. Petersburg, Fla., was awarded $25,200 for their project, “Pragmatic Acquisition of Language Skills (P.A.L.S.) – A Therapeutic Social Skills Group.” This grant will teach social skills using the unique approach of combining social skill instruction with social thinking skills and help children navigate through any given natural situation, rather than a specific event.

Alstrom Syndrome International of Mount Desert, Maine, was awarded $16,828 for their project, “Alstrom Syndrome: Medical Management Guidelines.” This grant will provide information to families and physicians on how to obtain the best possible outcomes for a child; improve the outcome of treatment; and create a more supportive environment for patients and families.

American Legion Post 133 of Fort Kent, Maine, was awarded $1,630 for their project, “Children Sharing Fishing Stories with Veterans.” This grant will provide a fun-filled, wholesome day for at-risk kids, facilitate interactive sharing of experiences between children and veterans, and reinforce classroom learning.

American Printing House for the Blind of Louisville, Ky., was awarded $31,000 for their project, “Braille Tales: Sharing the Joy of Reading.” This grant will help build enthusiasm for reading and build sighted parents' confidence in the use of accessible reading for their child.

Autism Speaks, Inc. of New York, N.Y., was awarded $32,070 for their project, “The Transition Tool Kit.” This grant will be a guide for families and children on the journey from adolescence to adulthood.

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation of Avon, Conn., was awarded $6,800 for their project, “Taking Care of Me: Self Care for Parents Caring for a Child with CdLS.” This grant will teach parents that their own needs must be a priority in order for them to take care of their children's needs.

Defending the Blue Line of Hastings, Minn., was awarded $10,000 for their project, “Military Kids Scholarship Project.” This grant will provide free equipment for military kids, attendance at summer camps, special events, and financial assistance for registration fees and other costs associated with athletics.

Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home, aka Boys Town, of Boys Town, Neb., was awarded $34,448 for their project, “Boys Town National Hotline Teen & Parent Awareness Campaign.” This grant will fund the distribution of hotline public service announcements to 1,100 TV stations nationwide, ensuring that more troubled teens and frustrated parents will call the hotline and speak to a trained counselor when they have nowhere else to turn.

Huntington's Disease Society of America of New York, N.Y., was awarded $41,500 for their project, “Live Out Loud: A Guide to HD Advocacy.” This grant will provide the Huntington’s Disease community with a comprehensive guide to grassroots advocacy efforts,and help create an awareness for youth and young adult involvement in HD advocacy and the HD community.

Joe Foss Institute of Scottsdale, Ariz., was awarded $20,000 for their project, “Veterans Inspiring Patriotism in Youth.” This grant will assist children and youth by increasing their knowledge of American history and civics, and it will prepare them to become active, engaged citizens.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Los Angeles was awarded $39,500 for their project, “The First 12 Months.” This grant will educate newly diagnosed children and their families on what to expect in the first 12 months following diagnosis of juvenile diabetes.

Kids in Danger of Chicago was awarded $15,000 for their project, “Safe From the Start - Safety Booklet.” This grant will fund a booklet that addresses various safety topics, including safe sleep tips, choking hazards, product registration, child proofing and how to check products for recalls.

National Braille Press of Boston was awarded $24,018 for their project, “ReadBooks! Because Braille Matters.” This grant will fund free resource bags to help parents with visually impaired children to introduce their children to Braille as an effective method of reading and writing, and encourage parents to learn braille in order to help their child.

National Children’s Alliance of Washington, D.C., was awarded $60,360 for their project, “Preventing Youth-on-Youth Sexual Abuse: Recognizing & Addressing Children with Sexual Behavior Problems.” This grant will provide Children's Advocacy Centers and caregivers with knowledge and tools to recognize and address children with sexual behavior problems and provide children’s organizations with the resources to advocate and implement CSBP-focused prevention initiatives in their own communities.

National Hemophilia Foundation of New York, N.Y., was awarded $17,000 for their project, “Playing It Safe For Kids.” This grant will fund a booklet that targets teens and parents of younger children, educating them on the importance of physical activity, weight maintenance and how to be active in a safe way when living with a bleeding disorder.

Organization for Autism Research of Arlington, Va., was awarded $19,920 for their project, “Kit for Kids Outreach 2016.” This grant will provide a set of peer education materials that teach elementary and middle school students how to relate to peers with autism.

Songs of Love Foundation of Forest Hills, N.Y., was awarded $25,000 for their project, “Songs of Love Outreach Project.” This grant will relieve suffering and bring joy to children who are coping with a chronic disability or life-threatening illness through music.

Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England of Milford, Mass., was awarded $2,000 for their project, “SBAGNE Outreach.” This grant will develop collateral relationships with 10 other organizations who serve children with disabilities.

Talk About Curing Autism of Irvine, Calif., was awarded $27,721 for their project, “Autism Journey Guides.” This grant will provide parents with information, research, peer input on where to start, what works for other families and important next steps on treating autism with the intent of recovery.

The American Legion National Headquarters of Indianapolis was awarded $75,000 for their project, “Temporary Financial Assistance Program.” This grant sustains, for a child(ren) of a veteran, a safe and healthy environment, providing funds for food or clothing when assistance is essential and contributes to pre-planned health-care expenses for those children.

The National Children’s Cancer Society of St. Louis was awarded $25,000 for their project, “Sun Day-Fun Day.” This grant will promote sun safety and give children the opportunity to fundraise for kids their own age with cancer. The key messages of the program includes limit time in the sun, play in the shade, use sunscreen and wear protective clothing.

ThinkFirst Foundation of Naperville, Ill., was awarded $21,100 for their project, “Injury Prevention Reinforcement Materials.” This grant will produce injury prevention materials that reinforce ThinkFirst injury prevention presentation messaging for children and teens.

Young Marines of Washington, D.C., was awarded $50,000 for their project, “Young Marines Drug Demand Reduction.” This grant will underwrite the purchase and dissemination of anti-drug literature and promotional items.