Jefferson Regional Foundation

In support of the recognized community health need to increase child and family outcomes, the Foundation made the following grants:- melting pot ministries, youth and family support: improve health and wellness by supporting positive development for youth and their caregivers in south park, baldwin-whitehall, and bethel park by providing out-of-school time programming (afterschool and summer) focused on educational, social-emotional, and cultural life challenges.- dragon's den, out-of-school time youth programming: improve health and well-being by building self-confidence, trust, and sociability of Jefferson school-age youth and develop deeper community engagement in homestead by offering after school programs and summer camps using the challenge course and zip line in the historic st. mary magdalene church.- united way of southwestern pennsylvania,welcome back summer 2024: provide in-person summer programming with hands-on and social and emotional learning opportunities for youth in kindergarten through high school by managing and implementing a collaborative funding model.- storehouse for teachers d.b.a the education partnership, providing essential school supplies to promote learning: improve the long-term overall health and well-being and educational outcomes of students attending five schools in clairton, duquesne, and mckeesport by providing new, essential school supply kits to all students, as well as delivering 286 teachers classroom supplies.- beverly's birthdays, championing social/emotional youth development and empowering families: provide support and opportunity to Jefferson women and parents/caregivers experiencing financial hardship during pregnancy and through the early years of a child's life by offering tangible supplies such as food, clothing, and equipment and offering linkages to other community partners via referrals. Supplies are offered through birthday parties, community baby showers, a mobile truck, and the newly formed greater pittsburgh infant formula bank.- latino community center, soy pittsburgh in mckeesport: increase the health, wellness, and educational outcomes of latinx youth in grades k-5 in partnership with francis mcclure elementary school in mckeesport by offering an eight-week summer camp and an afterschool program in 2024-2025 through culturally appropriate, trauma informed, and bilingual support.- mckeesport area school district, the village project: building collaborative capacity for youth development in three school districts: collaborate between mckeesport, duquesne, and clairton school districts to increase health and well-being of youth by addressing challenges within schools and across the education system through integrating the local community with students' daily learning experience.- western Pennsylvania diaper bank, access to diaper and hygiene supplies: improve the health and well-being of Jefferson families in need by expanding access to free diapers and other essentials through Jefferson partner organizations.- venture outdoors, inc, outdoors for all: continue to engage Jefferson youth, mentors, and volunteers in outdoor activity through targeted programming promoting health and wellness and offer teens a mentorship/ internship program to explore outdoor careers.- vision to learn, vision resources for children: increase the health and school engagement of children in Jefferson communities in partnership with school districts and community partners by offering vision exams to a maximum of 1,000 children and glasses to 800 children.- stem coding lab, inc, computer science education for duquesne students: provide economic mobility opportunities which could lead to long-term increased overall health and wellness for 175 duquesne city school district students through an introduction and instruction in computer science.- attack theatre incorporated, community in motion: support educational engagement, physical and mental well-being, and social emotional development for approximately 400 duquesne k-5 students and educators/curriculum providers through movement and dance in partnership with duquesne city school district.- cash for kids, youth programming, community engagement, and building rehabilitation: engage 30-40 youth ages 9-14 from mckeesport to participate in out-of-school time programming to promote fitness, nutrition, college aspirations, social development, and overall health and wellness and provide capacity for community convenings on the potential of a new community space.11 other grants and programs totaling $183,000.

In support of the recognized community health need to improve capacity-building, the Foundation made the following grants:- south hills interfaith ministers, shim center accessibility upgrades & building improvements: provide capital support to ensure long-term operations and create a safer and more welcoming environment at shim center for staff, volunteers, and south hills individuals and families facing suburban poverty.- allegheny health network, community health planning grant: build capacity to design a program implementation plan that increases the health and well-being of Jefferson residents by incorporating community voice, leveraging best practices and national models, analyzing existing data, and partnering with universities, nonprofit organizations, and Jefferson hospital leadership.- larosa youth development Foundation, building capacity for organizational development: build organizational capacity by hiring part-time staff, offering professional development, purchasing program supplies, and engaging in strategic planning including the creation of formal policies and procedures for operations to support continued growth and sustainability.five other grants and programs totaling $110,000.

In support of the recognized community health need to strengthen health and wellness, the Foundation made the following grants:- black women's policy center, inc., building civic engagement power for black women: improve the health and wellness of black women living in mckeesport, duquesne, clairton, west mifflin and homestead and share their lived experience by offering support and coaching through system navigation, connection to resources, advocacy on shaping public policy, and training and education- footbridge for families, inc., rapid response funding to support Jefferson families: assist approximately 51 Jefferson residents/families during times of short-term financial crisis and provide connections to additional supports through an innovative technology platform which facilitates rapid financial response to vendors.- the blessing board, south showroom: west mifflin location: increase the quality of life and overall health and wellness for families and individuals experiencing low-income status living in the Jefferson Regional service area by supporting the operations and sustainability of a furniture/durable medical equipment bank in west mifflin.- first step recover homes, inc., operating support for addiction recovery house: support operations to provide supervised, temporary, safe, drug and alcohol free, structured housing and support services for over 40 people (typically men) who are recovering from the disease of addiction and trying to stay out of the criminal justice system.- first step recover homes, inc.,operating and capacity support for addiction recovery home: support operations to provide supervised, temporary, safe, drug and alcohol free, structured housing and support services for over 60 people (typically men) who are recovering from the disease of addiction and build organizational capacity and long-term sustainability through the assistance of a capital consultant.- veterans breakfast club, supporting veteran health through storytelling and connection: support local veterans and their mental health by facilitating local, in-person storytelling events in the Jefferson area (six in bethel park and two in the mon valley) and supporting broad outreach efforts including a veteran focused magazine, newsletter, podcast, and online programs.- community human services corporation, housing and supplemental support: decrease homelessness, increase income stabilization, and increase quality of housing for up to 100 individuals/families within the Jefferson area by leveraging existing allegheny county housing assistance and providing additional supplemental support.- the pittsburgh Foundation, human service integration fund: support the continuation of a flexible, foundation-supported fund to strengthen human service delivery and address social determinants of health by creating efficiencies in response systems and service delivery through the allegheny county dept. Of human services that are not possible with government funding sources.five other grants and programs totaling $115,000.

In support of the recognized community health need to strengthen the workforce, the Foundation made the following grants:- dress for success pittsburgh, mobile services workforce development events: increase the confidence and capacity of 825 local female residents preparing to enter the workforce by providing each woman with appropriate interview clothing, uniform items, and career support delivered through a mobile boutique in partnership with Jefferson area organizations.- gwen's girls incorporated, program optimization initiative: increase overall health and wellness for youth, with an emphasis on black girls and families in mckeesport, clairton, and duquesne, through program evaluation, growth, and expansion based on community need and best practices, with a particular focus on expanding workforce education and development.- the mon valley initiative, workforce development and financial coaching: assist unemployed and under-employed Jefferson residents in achieving their goals of financial self- sufficiency through offering a comprehensive workforce development program.- literacy pittsburgh, bridging the gap from learning to earning: foster a lifetime of success for Jefferson adult learners by expanding employment opportunities through career pathways in construction and healthcare, improving employment and educational outcomes for caretakers and their children, and imparting vital digital skills.- human services center corporation, operating support to promote health and well-being: through general operational support, strengthen hscmv's ability to provide successful transitions to career and college for high school seniors attending west mifflin and mckeesport high schools, assist adults on the path to self-sufficiency, and provide basic services for health and well-being.two other grants and programs totaling $50,000.in support of the recognized community health need to increase civic engagement, the Foundation made the following grants:- 1hood media academy, inc., civic engagement in the mon valley: amplify the voices of residents in mckeesport, duquesne, and clairton by organizing and educating community leaders on civic engagement practices and registering new voters to highlight the specific needs of mon valley communities, which are often focused on the social determinants of health.- christian immigration advocacy center, legal assistance for immigrants and refugees: provide legal aid to 50 immigrants and refugees living in the Jefferson footprint for permanent resident card application and renewals, citizenship, and family petitions. These services position families to access resources to improve long-term health and well-being.three other grants and programs totaling $120,000.in support of the recognized community health need to strengthen diversity, equality, and inclusion, the Foundation made the following grant totaling $50,000:- anna middleton waite learning center, digital equity for older adults and building organizational capacity: provide older adults the necessary tools to engage in the digital world by providing education, personal computers, and technical support, and build organizational capacity through developing an action plan with the assistance of a strategic consultant.new strategic plan: at it's december 2020 board meeting, Jefferson Regional Foundation adopted a new three-year strategic plan after a three-session remote board retreat and several months of work. The five strategic goals of the 2021-2023 include:1. Invest through grant-making and community engagement strategies in six new priorities2. Continue to focus on the Jefferson hospital legacy service area (communities outside of the city of pittsburgh but in allegheny county)3. Pursue parallel goals of addressing community needs while maintaining an equivalent level of philanthropic resources to help future generations address the needs of their time.4. Apply a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of our work in the community and across our internal practices.5. Support a culture of learning and continuous improvement in our governance practices, internal systems, and evaluation.