IP Awards $50K In Grants To Local Community Groups

May 22, 2015

International Paper has awarded $50,000 in Foundation Grants to local community organizations. Grants are awarded by the IP Foundation in Memphis, Tenn., which focuses on environmental education, literacy, employee involvement and critical community needs.

“We are privileged to be able to assist our local community organizations in their efforts to make a difference in the lives of the residents and children of Northwest Florida,” said Janice Holmes, communications manager. “Their efforts serve to strengthen our community.”

North Escambia area community organizations and their projects that were awarded grants for 2015 are:

Escambia County Extension 4H “4H Environmental Stewardship”

The 4-H Environmental stewardship program supports the educational directives implemented at the new 4-H Center on Chalker Road in Molino.  Specific forestry and natural resource program material will emphasize the concepts of tree value, development of plant communities, forestry services and related ecosystem management. The funds will be used to plant pine and hardwood trees for demonstrations. “We will be using it for a teaching demonstration for the 4-H youth,” Extension Agent Hank Bignell said. The learning process will begin as the 4-H members assist in planting the trees.

Greater First Baptist Church, “Community Literacy Mentoring and Tutoring Program”

Greater First Baptist Church of Cantonment (GFB) serves as a resource and learning center for the Cantonment community and the surrounding areas.  The grant helps them to provide a continuum of supplemental reading and writing activities, tutoring and homework assistance and various other structured learning, which also includes peer mentoring.  Activities are designed to strengthen each participants self-esteem focusing on reading programs and the performing arts. The built in social and life skills development highlights self-respect, respect for others, cooperation, sense of community ownership and responsibility and youth participation in the management of their own behavior.

Cantonment Improvement Committee “Cantonment Resource Center Training Hub”

Escambia County has installed a modular building that is now used as the Cantonment Resource Center near Carver Park. The grant will fund materials and supplies to help outfit the training hub. A ribbon cutting for resource center was held Monday (pictured).

Jim Allen Elementary School, “Eggstraordinary Readers”

The goal of the Reading Eggs program is to support each child’s learning by offering activities in an interactive way to help children progress at their own rate. It fosters a love of reading at a young age so students will continue to read and to be successful throughout life. The Reading Eggs program is a powerful educational program that is based on the most up to date research on how children learn to read. The program includes activities and reward games to keep children motivated and interested in learning to read. This program includes progress reports that can be printed and shared with parents.

J.M. Tate High School “New Life for Old Fish”

Teacher John Hannon will utilize the grant to refurbish all of the science aquariums and redesign each one to represent a different marine habitat that one might find along Florida’s diverse shoreline.  The aquaria will be outfitted with living flora and fauna representative of each habitat.

Other grants awarded include:

  • American Red Cross “Home Fires Campaign”
  • Autism Pensacola “Kids for Camp Summer Learning Lab”
  • Ballet Pensacola, ”Discover Dance”
  • Council on Aging of NWFL, “Big Green, Little Green Composting!”
  • Creative Learning Academy “Middle School Library”
  • Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence, “Literacy and Environmental Classroom Grants”
  • Every Child a Reader in Escambia “Project Ready 2015”
  • First City Arts Alliance “Green Art Program: Recycled Papermaking and Paper Arts”
  • Partnership for Community Programs “Bay Day 2015,” “Stormwater Curb Marking Program,”  and “Stormwater Estuary Education Program
  • Pensacola Mess Hall “Natural History Discover Cart”
  • Pensacola Opera “From Words to Music”
  • Pensacola State College Foundation, Inc., “PSC Summer Environment Camp”
  • Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, “Global Learning Academy Reading Volunteers” and “Nature Trail”
  • The Global Corner “New Zealand and Activity Book for Children”
  • UWF Foundation, “Emerald Coast BEST Robotics Hub” and  “Summer Institute for the National Writing Project”

Pictured top:  Extension Agents Hank Bignell and Beth Bolles accepted a grant Thursday from the International Paper Foundation. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “IP Awards $50K In Grants To Local Community Groups”

  1. Josh Womack on May 22nd, 2015 9:05 pm

    Thank you International Paper for your support for the Community Community of Cantonment and surrounding areas.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News