East Baltimore Christian Athletic Association/EZRA
$10,000 / 2007 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of youth athletic programs for 375 inner-city children, ages nine to 17. Adult volunteers coach and teach fundamentals of playing organized sports while at the same time instilling values of sportsmanship, hard work, discipline, and respect.
Educational Opportunity Program
$172,900 / 2007 / Education
To provide facilitators for EOP students at each of the two new Southwestern High Schools. The purpose of the program is to increase the high school graduation rate of Baraka School graduates, to provide them with tutoring, enrichment activities, and academic and social support.
Environment Maryland Research and Policy Center, Inc.
$5,000 / 2007 / Environment
For expenses related to promoting the Clean Car Program in Maryland. This advocacy effort calls for ten executive briefings with the governor’s administrative staff, the creation of a Commission on Climate Change, and scheduling of testimonials on global warming and environmental health at the legislative session.
Food Studies Institute
$52,500 / 2007 / Education
For expansion of the Food for Life program at charter schools: Hampstead Hill Academy, The Stadium School, City Springs, and Collington Square. Designed to encourage the exposure to nutritional foods, the year-long hands-on food-based curriculum stresses the importance of acquiring knowledge about vitamins, whole grains, labeling, fat and sugar content, the difference between fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and the importance of exercise. Students are taught how to prepare food using recipes from around the world. The program involves families in community meals and gardens. To evaluate the degree of overall academic performance and student behavior as the consequence of healthier food choice, graduate students from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health will document the effectiveness of the program, gauging obesity reduction and improving the general health of the children.
Foundation of Hope, Inc.
$25,000 / 2007 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
For operating costs to provide supportive housing for 13 men and 20 women in Baltimore City who are recovering from substance abuse. Fountain of Hope operates five houses with minimum stays of six months, during which time clients seek and secure employment, enroll in a higher education program, and participate in ongoing self-help groups. Residents may stay as long as one year if they need additional time to make the transition back into the community.