Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: James Madison University Foundation
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: JMU Foundation
Mailing Address: 1031 Harrison St., MSC 8501
City: Harrisonburg
State: VA
Postal Code: 22807
Main Phone: 540-568-3187
Main Fax: 540-432-0373
Organization Website: www.jmu.edu
Employer ID Number: Foundation TIN 23-7156305
Organization Tax Status: tax exempt

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 1/20/2023
Requested Amount: $5,000

Project Title: Gus Bus
Project Description:

According to the 2018 Census, 23.3% of Harrisonburg citizens live in poverty. A recent ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report states that 65% of families with children here have income below the ALICE threshold level; this is 28% more than the state average. A family’s financial limits can make it difficult for parents to provide support that will aid in their children’s education, such as books and supplemental literacy activities.
Our mobile classrooms regularly visit the areas where most families have financial and/or transportation barriers to instruction like ours—instruction that inspires creativity, promotes social-emotional growth, and improves educational achievement. The Gus Bus takes literacy on the road to meet historically marginalized students and families where they live, bringing high quality children’s literature right into the heart of their neighborhoods.
Throughout most of the school year and summer months, the Gus Bus provides weekly or twice-weekly programming at each of our neighborhood stops. Currently, we serve more than 425 students in 19 unique neighborhoods with mobile-classroom visits, school-based programs, and in-home tutoring programs. The Gus Bus has been delivering books and resources to low-income neighborhoods since 2003.

Total Project Budget: $538,390

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Private support … 10,000 Average received from individual donors 21st Century Community Learning Classroom … $528,390 Multi-year grant support TOTAL PROJECTED INCOME … $538,390

Project Duration: annual, ongoing
Geographical Area Served: Harrisonburg, VA
Age Group To Be Served: Pre-K to 12

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: John
Contact Last Name: Meck
Contact Title: Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations
Contact Phone: 540-568-4122
Contact Email: cfr@jmu.edu