Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form<\/p>\n
Organization Name: Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads
\nLegal Name (if Different): Armed Services YMCA of the USA
\nAlso Known As: Hampton Roads Armed Services YMCA
\nMailing Address: 1465 Lakeside Road
\nCity: Virginia Beach
\nState: Virginia
\nPostal Code: 23455
\nMain Phone: 757-363-1884
\nMain Fax: 757-363-1953
\nOrganization Website: https:\/\/hamptonroads.asymca.org
\nEmployer ID Number: 36-3274346
\nOrganization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)<\/p>\n
Proposal Information<\/p>\n
Today’s Date: 2\/26\/2026
\nRequested Amount: 7500<\/p>\n
Project Title: Operation Little Learners
\nProject Description:<\/p>\n
Military families face unique stressors such as frequent relocations, economic strain, and separation during deployments. These challenges disrupt continuity in education and make it difficult for families to build stable community networks. Operation Little Learners provides a crucial support system by creating a welcoming space where both children and parents can form lasting friendships, easing the isolation that comes with military life. <\/p>\n
Operation Little Learners (OLL) is a free \u201cparent and me\u201d school readiness program for military children ages 18 months \u2013 5 years. The program offers an interactive, parent\u2011child learning environment that helps parents embrace their role as their child\u2019s first teacher. Through guided activities, OLL enhances key developmental areas; cognitive, emotional, social, motor, and early academic skills while fostering meaningful parent\u2011child bonding. <\/p>\n
Due to an expressed need by our families, we have added \u201cOLL Minis\u201d for military children birth \u2013 18 months. The focus of this operation is on togetherness, bonding, and early socialization. Participants meet other active-duty families while our facilitator leads them through music, story time, and fun activities. Both programs include free monthly field trips and free \u201cCraft and Conversation\u201d meetups. <\/p>\n
Classes meet twice per week for 13 weeks. Themed weekly lessons are tailored to each developmental stage. Parents report that OLL not only prepares their children for kindergarten but also offers emotional support for adults navigating the stresses of military life. Some even credit the program with profoundly improving their wellbeing during periods of loneliness or transition. <\/p>\n
By building early academic readiness, strengthening family relationships, and cultivating a sense of belonging, Operation Little Learners provides a lifeline of stability and connection for military families. It ensures children have the developmental foundation they need to thrive, while giving parents the confidence, tools, and community support essential for raising resilient young learners. <\/p>\n
Total Project Budget: 376,316<\/p>\n
Other Funding
\nSources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Commited: $20,000 United Way of South Hampton Roads, $12,500 City of Virginia Beach Community Organization Grant, Newport News Shipyard – $5000; Potential: Cox Communications $10,000, PNC Foundation – $15,000<\/p>\n
Project Duration: Continuous – 13 week sessions are held continuously throughout the community.
\nGeographical Area Served: All of Hampton Roads, Southside and Peninsula in Virginia. Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Isle of Wight, Southampton and Franklin.
\nAge Group To Be Served: Birth – 5 years<\/p>\n
Contact Information<\/p>\n
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
\nContact First Name: Debbie
\nContact Last Name: Brinkley
\nContact Title: Grants Manager
\nContact Phone: 757-363-1884
\nContact Email: dbrinkley@asymca.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form Organization Name: Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads Legal Name (if Different): Armed Services YMCA of the USA Also Known As: Hampton Roads Armed Services YMCA Mailing Address: 1465 Lakeside Road City: Virginia Beach State: Virginia Postal Code: 23455 Main Phone: 757-363-1884 Main Fax: 757-363-1953 Organization Website: https:\/\/hamptonroads.asymca.org Employer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-grants"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9590"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9591,"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9590\/revisions\/9591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hermanowskifoundation.org\/members\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}