Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Caring Link
Legal Name (if Different): Caring Link Inc
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 12864 D Hwy 231 431 N
City: Hazel Green
State: Alabama
Postal Code: 35750
Main Phone: 256-603-7981
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://thecaringlink.org
Employer ID Number: 92-0696434
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Organization – Tax Exempt

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 27, 2025
Requested Amount: $5,000

Project Title: New Beginnings School Readiness Program
Project Description:

New Beginnings is a school readiness program focused on preparing 500+ students to return to the classroom with the tools they need to succeed and then supporting those students throughout the year with additional supplies. By providing children in poverty with new clothing, toiletries, school supplies, haircuts, vision/hearing/wellness/dental screenings, family meal boxes, and more, New Beginnings allows students to walk through the doors on the first day of school with confidence, knowing that their educations will not be derailed by unmet basic needs.

During our New Beginnings program, students are not merely handed a bag of items without any choice or say so. Instead, they "shop" for the items they want, which is a luxury many have not experienced before. This ability to choose is fundamental to students as they develop a sense of self and personal pride, affording them a level of autonomy that is rare when living in hardship. In addition, they gain experience with weighing choices and making decisions, much like they would in a store environment. Building adequate consumer skills is difficult among children who normally have no money to spend. However, these are important life practices that they will have access to through their participation in New Beginnings.

As a highly collaborative program, New Beginnings combines the impact of at least 10 local nonprofits–from food pantries to literacy services to mental health assistance and more–all working together to solve a shared problem: how do we uplift a child in poverty so that they can be an adult in abundance? With research showing that the most consistent way to break generational poverty is through education, our goal is to equip students with self-assurance so that they can start that upward journey on the first day of school and keep climbing each day thereafter.

Total Project Budget: $75,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Mazda Toyota Manufacturing: $5,000 (committed), Phoenix Vocational Services: $5,000 (committed); BAE Systems: $5,000 (committed); The Caring Link Fundraising: $5,000 (committed); The Caring Link Fundraising: $4,000 (potential); Redstone Federal Credit Union: $50,000 (potential); Aerie Foundation: $8,000 (potential), Huntsville Rotary Club: $5,000 (potential), Avion Solutions: $5,000 (potential)

Project Duration: July 18, 2025 – May 20, 2026
Geographical Area Served: Madison County, Alabama
Age Group To Be Served: 4 years to 18 years old

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Kate
Contact Last Name: O’Neal
Contact Title: President
Contact Phone: 256-603-7981
Contact Email: thecaringlink@gmail.com