Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: QueenNation Organization
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 3910 Allaire ave
City: charlotte
State: North Carolina
Postal Code: 28217
Main Phone: 929-217-7976
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.queennationorg.com
Employer ID Number:
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/13/2026
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: Turning Pain Into Purpose Youth Housing Program
Project Description:

QueenNation Organization is requesting funding to support our therapeutic housing program for vulnerable girls ages 9 to 18 who have experienced homelessness, abuse, neglect, or family instability. Our program provides a safe residential environment where girls receive mentorship, life skills training, emotional support, and guidance that helps them heal from trauma and build a successful future. Funding will help support housing stability, program resources, and essential services that promote healthy development and independence for youth in our community.

Total Project Budget: 25000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Grants, community donations, fundraising efforts, and private donors supporting QueenNation Organization.

Project Duration: 12 months
Geographical Area Served: Charlotte , North Carolina and the surrounding Communities
Age Group To Be Served: 9-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): ms
Contact First Name: Phyllis
Contact Last Name: Hubbard
Contact Title: Founder
Contact Phone: 929-217-7976
Contact Email: info@queennationorg.com

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Advocates for Pets of Loudon County TN
Legal Name (if Different): Loudon County Humane Society
Also Known As: Advocates for Pets of Loudon County TN
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 602
City: Lenoir City
State: Tennessee
Postal Code: 37771
Main Phone: 865-408-8836
Main Fax:
Organization Website: aplctn.org
Employer ID Number: 62-1400713
Organization Tax Status:

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date:
Requested Amount:

Project Title:
Project Description:

Total Project Budget:

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential):

Project Duration:
Geographical Area Served:
Age Group To Be Served:

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.):
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Contact Title:
Contact Phone:
Contact Email:

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Adair County Family YMCA
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: The Y
Mailing Address: 1708 South Jamison Street
City: Kirksville
State: MO
Postal Code: 63501
Main Phone: 660-665-1922
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://adairymca.org/
Employer ID Number: 43-0811428
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 13, 2026
Requested Amount: $5790.00

Project Title: Afterschool Inclusion for Physical Activity
Project Description:

Youth disability incidence rate in the region is 13.2% (higher than the state rate) with learning, intellectual, cognitive, developmental, emotional, and autism most frequently reported. There are NO health and recreation organizations/agencies in the region that intentionally mix typically developing children with children with disabilities in fitness and recreational programming. Over 10 million children nationally attend out-of-school time programs, however, few promote physical activity for children with disabilities. There is a call, nationally, for out-of-school time interventions to support physical activity and social skills improvement for children and youth with disabilities. Youth with disabilities participate in recreation, health promotion, and physical activities at lower rates than their typically developing peers, leading to less independence, more social exclusion, and higher rates of poor mental and physical health conditions. Improving physical activity participation levels in this population could decrease the risk for present and future chronic health problems. We are seeking funding for the evidenced-based, Inclusive, CATCH Kids Club [curriculum and equipment package], implemented in over 11,000 communities worldwide, includes daily physical activities, nutrition, and screen-time reduction to encourage physical fitness in children and youth – including those with disabilities – during afterschool/summer programs. Specially designed activities with teaching techniques and ideas for adapting for those with special needs allows everyone to get active and be included in the fun! Goal: For participants in CATCH Kids Club, physical activity levels and time in moderate/vigorous activity for both those with disabilities and their typical-developing peers will meet the YMCA Health and Physical Activity Standard of 30 minutes of moderate/vigorous activity during out-of-school time. Evaluated by: SOPLAY: System for Observing Play and Leisure Time in Youth.

Total Project Budget: $10,000.00

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): $2,000.00 from Kiwanis and $1,000.00 from SB40 Disability Board

Project Duration: 1 year: school year including summer
Geographical Area Served: Rural Northeast MO
Age Group To Be Served: 5-14

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Carol
Contact Last Name: Cox
Contact Title: Board President, YMCA
Contact Phone: 412 335 9295
Contact Email: ccox@truman.edu

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: House of Ruth
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 5 Thomas Circle NW, 4th Floor
City: Washington
State: DC
Postal Code: 20005
Main Phone: 202-667-7001
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://houseofruth.org/
Employer ID Number: 52-1054102
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/13/2026
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Kidspace Child and Family Development Center
Project Description:

House of Ruth requests support for Kidspace, a nationally accredited child development center located in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 7. Kidspace transforms the lives of 84 children and 100 parents annually. The families we serve are overcoming the complex traumas associated with houselessness, domestic violence, and financial hardship. These traumatic experiences can trigger significant developmental delays; yet, families in D.C. frequently lack access to specialized programs capable of addressing such multi-generational challenges.

Kidspace is a holistic child development center that meets children’s educational, clinical, and basic needs, giving children and their families the tools they need to succeed. Our integrated model addresses mental health alongside early childhood development and academic readiness. Kidspace provides children with two nutritious meals and a snack daily, and trauma-informed educators deliver a research-based curriculum.

Our site-based clinical strategy drives our transformative work. We embed clinicians directly into the learning environment to remove barriers to accessing care. Clinicians conduct annual screenings and autism evaluations to ensure immediate intervention. This approach circumvents local waitlists that often exceed two years. These assessments guide the delivery of speech, occupational, and music therapies that our specialists integrate directly into the classroom setting. Kidspace parents have access to clinical groups and parent-child therapy to strengthen relationship quality and family stability. Services are provided at no cost to participants.

Support from the Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation will give D.C.’s most vulnerable children the therapeutic and educational foundation necessary to reach their full potential. Offering these essential tools today ensures that every child, regardless of their background, is able to reach their developmental milestones and succeed in the public school system. This investment will help break the cycle of trauma for the next generation.

Total Project Budget: $3,370,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): House of Ruth’s Kidspace receives funding from governmental grants, individual donors, and foundations. In fiscal year 2026 to-date, Kidspace has received a total of $1,590,000 in funding from the Alexander & Margaret Stewart Trust, the Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation, an Anonymous Foundation, the Clark Winchcole Foundation, the Strebor Family Foundation, the TowerCares Foundation, and the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education. To-date, House of Ruth has requested a total of $220,000 in grant funding for Kidspace from the Captrust Community Foundation, the Comis Foundation, the George Preston Marshall Foundation, the Herb Block Foundation, the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, the Qlarant Foundation, the Walter A. Bloedorn Foundation, and the Wawa Foundation.

Project Duration: January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027
Geographical Area Served: Washington, DC
Age Group To Be Served: Children ages six weeks to five years and their parents

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Michaela
Contact Last Name: Muttom
Contact Title: Foundation Grants Manager
Contact Phone: 202-597-5798
Contact Email: mmuttom@houseofruth.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: SWCEC or The Collaborative
Mailing Address: 1000 Rim Drive
City: Durango
State: CO
Postal Code: 81301
Main Phone: 9704265323
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.swcoedcollaborative.org/
Employer ID Number: 86-2475305
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/13/2026
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Bridging the Rural Divide: Scaling Career Exploration for SW Colorado Youth
Project Description:

The Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (SWCEC) requests $10,000 to scale our Work-Based Learning (WBL) programming, specifically targeting career exploration for middle and high school students across our seven-district service area. In our remote region, geographic isolation often limits a student’s vision of what is professionally possible. This project provides the tools to succeed by bridging the gap between rural classrooms and high-wage industries.

We aim to move students beyond theoretical learning into active career simulation and exploration through two primary delivery models:

Career Immersion Days: We will coordinate hands-on "Career Days" where students engage with professionals in Health Sciences, Building Trades, and Environment & Natural Resources fields. These sessions move beyond a simple lecture; students use industry-standard equipment to perform job-shadow tasks, demystifying the path from graduation to a career.

Regional Futures Fairs: We will host two marquee Futures Fairs—one in each of our primary service hubs—to ensure equitable access for all students. These fairs serve as a central marketplace for careers, allowing students to interface with over 70 regional employers, nonprofit partners, and post-secondary mentors in a single day.

Funding will directly cover the logistical barriers that often prevent rural participation, including student transportation, venue costs, event supplies, and hands-on demonstration materials. By the end of the 12-month grant period, 1000+ students will have participated in at least one high-impact exploration event.

As a collaborative, we maximize the Hermanowski Foundation’s investment by sharing resources across district lines. This grant provides the direct, tactile experiences that empower Southwest Colorado youth to visualize and reach their full potential.

Total Project Budget: 20,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): State grant & private foundation grant (potential)

Project Duration: 1 school year (2026-2027)
Geographical Area Served: Southwest Colorado (Counties: La Plata, San Juan, Dolores, Montezuma)
Age Group To Be Served: 13-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr
Contact First Name: Patrick
Contact Last Name: Fredricks
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 9704265323
Contact Email: pfredricks@swcoedcollaborative.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: WitKids, Inc.
Legal Name (if Different): WitKids, Inc.
Also Known As: WIT – Whatever It Takes / WIT Kids
Mailing Address: 1202 Cedar Lane, B
City: Nashville
State: TN
Postal Code: 37212
Main Phone: 619-379-2640
Main Fax: n/a
Organization Website: https://www.doingwit.org
Employer ID Number: 27-1276677
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) public charity

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 13, 2026
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: WIT Youth Leadership Lab: One‑Year Entrepreneurship & Life Skills Cohort
Project Description:

WitKids, Inc. (WIT) equips teens to become confident leaders and social entrepreneurs by providing structured, real-world experiences that strengthen academic skills, emotional intelligence, and career readiness.
The WIT Youth Leadership Lab is a one-year cohort program serving approximately 15–20 youth ages 13–18. Through weekly sessions (virtual and in-person where feasible), youth identify real challenges in their schools or communities and design practical solutions. Participants develop leadership, communication, financial literacy, and project management skills while launching small social impact ventures or initiatives.
WIT intentionally operates at the intersection of education, health, and welfare. Youth strengthen academic and workforce competencies while also building protective mental health factors such as resilience, confidence, belonging, and purpose. Participants receive mentorship from trained WIT coaches and guest leaders from business and community organizations. The program culminates in a public showcase where youth present their projects to peers, families, and community members.
Hermanowski Foundation support will fund scholarships for youth with financial barriers, coach stipends, curriculum materials, program platform tools, and evaluation costs. Funds will be fully expended during the grant year. WIT will provide a final report detailing participation numbers, skill development outcomes, and youth impact stories.
Through this investment, the foundation will help young people gain practical skills, caring adult mentorship, and the confidence to translate ideas into meaningful action, strengthening their ability to thrive in school, work, and life.

Total Project Budget: 15000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: individual donors, small foundation, corporate partner Potential: Rooted and Rising Youth Leaders grant, local corporate sponsors, individual donors

Project Duration: August 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2026
Geographical Area Served: United States
Age Group To Be Served: Youth ages 13–18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Sarah
Contact Last Name: Hernholm
Contact Title: Founder & President
Contact Phone: 619-379-2640
Contact Email: sarah@doingwit.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: La Puente Home, Inc
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: PO Box 1235
City: Alamosa
State: CO
Postal Code: 81101
Main Phone: 719-589-5909
Main Fax: NA
Organization Website: www.lapuentehome.org
Employer ID Number:
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3: 74-2224631

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/13/2026
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: La Puente Home’s PALS/PALS 2.0 Children’s Program
Project Description:

PALS is a referral-based, licensed, after-school and summer program designed for kindergarten through 5th-grade children with high social-emotional needs, who have experienced trauma and/or abuse, and whose families who have experienced severe or generational poverty. Tailored to the unique needs of each child, PALS focuses on fostering social, emotional, and behavioral growth utilizing evidence-based practices within a nurturing learning environment.

In 2023, PALS expanded to provide 6th through high school-aged youth (who had previously graduated from the traditional PALS program) with continued access to services through mentorship, field trips, support, and engagement in community service. This expansion is called PALS 2.0 and is led by the PALS Family Engagement Specialist, who collaborates with PALS parents or guardians to strengthen their respective roles and provide support for their goals and concerns that may impact their family.

PALS and PALS 2.0 serve children in Kindergarten through high school with high social-emotional needs and therapeutic interventions. These children are referred to PALS through the Alamosa DHS, Child Protective Services, school counselors, and the Boys and Girls Club of the San Luis Valley (due to having higher needs than what the Club is able to provide). These children come from Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties in south-central Colorado, an extremely vast, rural, and frontier region of the 8,000 square mile (approximately the size of Massachusetts) San Luis Valley (SLV). Of these counties, three are Congressionally defined as experiencing persistent poverty, where at least 20% of a county has lived below the poverty line for at least thirty years. Due to the region’s remoteness, the SLV also experiences a severe shortage of child-related services, and PALS is the only program in the entire region, and one of the few in Colorado, offering this type of programming and interventions.

Total Project Budget: $496,420

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: Individual Donor: $200,000; Comis Foundation: $50,000; Individual Donor: $50,000; Individual Donor: $25,000; Individual Donor: $20,000 Potential: Mark Wahlberg Foundation: $10,000, Denver Broncos Foundation: $10,000, Buchanan Family Foundation: $20,000, Brutten Foundation: $10,000

Project Duration: One year from receipt of any award (even if not aligned with our July 1-June 30 fiscal year)
Geographical Area Served: Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Sagauche Counties in Colorado’s vast and remote (8,000 square miles, or about the size of Massachusetts) San Luis Valley
Age Group To Be Served: Kindergarten through High School

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Claire
Contact Last Name: Smith
Contact Title: Special Operations Associate / Grant Writer
Contact Phone: 719-589-5909 Ext 222
Contact Email: grantwriter3@lapuente.net

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Mountain School of Milton Academy
Legal Name (if Different): The Mountain School of Milton Academy
Also Known As: The Mountain School of Milton Academy
Mailing Address: 151 Mountain School Road
City: Vershire
State: VT
Postal Code: 05079
Main Phone: 2392980274
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.mountainschool.org
Employer ID Number: 04-2103603
Organization Tax Status: 501 c 3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/13/2026
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: Bridge Program
Project Description:

The Mountain School program began in 1985 as the first semester program in the United States. As a semester program, the Mountain School welcomes a new group of students in late August and another new group in late January, providing a short, intense alternative to a traditional high school semester without interrupting the sequence and flow of the high school education. We offer traditional academics to continue students’ regular coursework but also have a focus on teaching students about farming, forestry, food, ecology, and how to live in community. Each semester 45 eleventh grade students come to our hillside farm campus in Vershire, Vermont to take on a very different type of education. The Mountain School’s mission is, in part, “to learn to know a place and take care of it.” Through shared work and communal living, students embody this mission.

We would like to partner with the Hermanowski Foundation to expand the support we offer to first generation and low-income students in the areas of academic support, mental health support, and holistic mind-body wellness. We take a 360-degree approach to students as humans, fully present in body and mind, and engage with them not just intellectually or physically but with a synergy of all the components of self. Many of our first generation and low-income students come to our campus from profoundly under resourced schools and we run this “Bridge Program” to offer extra academic, social, and health supports to ensure student success.

Total Project Budget: 30000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Another Foundation Grant (secured), Alumni Donations (some secured)

Project Duration: 1 year (plus extension if we can permanently fund)
Geographical Area Served: national
Age Group To Be Served: 11th grade

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.):
Contact First Name: Alex
Contact Last Name: Myers
Contact Title: Director
Contact Phone: 2392980274
Contact Email: alex.myers@mountainschool.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Mountain School of Milton Academy
Legal Name (if Different): The Mountain School of Milton Academy
Also Known As: The Mountain School of Milton Academy
Mailing Address: 151 Mountain School Road
City: Vershire
State: VT
Postal Code: 05079
Main Phone: 2392980274
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.mountainschool.org
Employer ID Number: 04-2103603
Organization Tax Status: 501 c 3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/13/2026
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: Bridge Program
Project Description:

The Mountain School program began in 1985 as the first semester program in the United States. As a semester program, the Mountain School welcomes a new group of students in late August and another new group in late January, providing a short, intense alternative to a traditional high school semester without interrupting the sequence and flow of the high school education. We offer traditional academics to continue students’ regular coursework but also have a focus on teaching students about farming, forestry, food, ecology, and how to live in community. Each semester 45 eleventh grade students come to our hillside farm campus in Vershire, Vermont to take on a very different type of education. The Mountain School’s mission is, in part, “to learn to know a place and take care of it.” Through shared work and communal living, students embody this mission.

We would like to partner with the Hermanowski Foundation to expand the support we offer to first generation and low-income students in the areas of academic support, mental health support, and holistic mind-body wellness. We take a 360-degree approach to students as humans, fully present in body and mind, and engage with them not just intellectually or physically but with a synergy of all the components of self. Many of our first generation and low-income students come to our campus from profoundly under resourced schools and we run this “Bridge Program” to offer extra academic, social, and health supports to ensure student success.

Total Project Budget: 30000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Another Foundation Grant (secured), Alumni Donations (some secured)

Project Duration: 1 year (plus extension if we can permanently fund)
Geographical Area Served: national
Age Group To Be Served: 11th grade

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.):
Contact First Name: Alex
Contact Last Name: Myers
Contact Title: Director
Contact Phone: 2392980274
Contact Email: alex.myers@mountainschool.org

Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: New Dawn Restoration Center
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 5308 East Columbus Dr
City: Tampa
State: FL
Postal Code: 33619
Main Phone: 8138710988
Main Fax:
Organization Website: Newdawnrestoration.org
Employer ID Number: 261202225
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/13/2026
Requested Amount: $3000.00

Project Title: Computer Lab
Project Description:

The New Dawn Restoration Center Youth Computer Lab & Homework Center is a focused initiative designed to close the digital divide and provide underprivileged youth in East Tampa with a safe, supportive, and technology‑equipped environment for academic success. Many children and teens in the surrounding community lack access to reliable computers, high‑speed internet, and quiet study spaces at home—barriers that hinder homework completion, digital literacy, and long‑term educational outcomes. This project directly addresses these challenges by creating a dedicated space where youth can learn, grow, and thrive.

The initiative will transform an existing area within New Dawn Restoration Center into a fully equipped computer lab and structured homework center serving youth ages 8–18. The center will operate after school and during designated weekend hours, ensuring consistent access to technology, tutoring, and mentorship. Equipped with networked desktop computers, high‑speed Wi‑Fi, educational software, and supervised study zones, the space will support homework completion, research, virtual learning platforms, and creative academic projects.

In addition to homework assistance, the center will offer digital literacy workshops, including typing skills, online safety, research strategies, and introductory STEM activities. Trained volunteers, college students, and community partners will provide tutoring and mentorship, helping youth build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and develop positive relationships with caring adults.

This project aligns with New Dawn Restoration Center’s long‑standing commitment to empowering families and uplifting the East Tampa community. By providing equitable access to technology and academic support, the Youth Computer Lab & Homework Center will increase homework completion rates, improve digital readiness, and create a safe, structured environment during critical after‑school hours. The program is expected to serve 50–75 youth annually, preparing them for success in school, future careers, and life.

Total Project Budget: $10,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Church funding most of project

Project Duration: 1 year
Geographical Area Served: East Tampa
Age Group To Be Served: 15-19

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs
Contact First Name: Yvette
Contact Last Name: Davis
Contact Title: Director
Contact Phone: 813-347-6134
Contact Email: grants@newdawnrestoration.org