The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation has awarded $40,000 in grants for 16 projects benefitting minority and under-served communities across the state, according to a news release.
Administered by Arkansas Community Foundation, the grants will support projects focused on education, health and wellness and youth development.
Grant recipients in Southeast Arkansas include:
• Ivy Center for Education Inc. (Pine Bluff) – to develop a robotics team to compete in local and national competitions at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
• Star City FFA (Star City) – to build a cage-free poultry laying pen, designed and built by high school students in poultry science class. The pen houses up to 60 laying hens and provides fresh eggs weekly to the Lincoln County Lend a Hand food pantry.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Alex Foundation (McGehee) – to support Do It Yourself (DIY) Architecture and Design Summer Camp for youth by introducing 6th grade students to 21st century technical and creative skills that are transferrable to careers in demand.
• City of Wilmot (Wilmot) – to support Camp All In, which is a free, six-week, summer day camp for underserved at-risk youth aged 6-17. The goal of the camp is to provide a high quality engaging summer program that will make a positive impact on the health and educational well-being of 100 area youth.
The grants were presented in a May 23 ceremony at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.
“Each year we are so energized by supporting these amazing projects that are positively impacting outcomes for children, families and communities throughout Arkansas,” Black Hall of Fame foundation chairman Charles Stewart said in the release. “Our commitment to work with grassroots and other organizations to help improve education, youth development and health and wellness for the people of Arkansas is reaffirmed with each grant cycle.”
The foundation invested more than $570,000 over the past 13 years which led to $520,000 in grants to Arkansas nonprofits, according to the release.
“The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation aims to provide an environment in which future generations of African American achievers with Arkansas roots will thrive and succeed. The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame honors the contributions of African Americans through its annual Black Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and awards grants to support charitable endeavors in the Black community,” according to the release.
Details: www.arblackhalloffame.org.