Advancing Safe and Healthy Homes for Children and Families

Greensboro Housing Coalition receives $25,000 grant from

the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

"The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro has awarded Greensboro Housing Coalition (GHC) a $25,000 grant.  This grant is a partial match to The Kresge Foundation’s $125,000 grant that was awarded in July, 2015. 

GHC is an advocate for safe, fair and affordable housing for low and moderate income people in Greensboro. The Kresge Foundation partnered with just five non-profits nationwide in December, 2012, to address environmental and housing challenges such as asthma-triggering allergens, fire hazards, substandard insulation, weatherization, structural problems, and neighborhood nuisances such as abandoned buildings.  GHC was one of the five non-profit that was picked by the Kresge Foundation.  Kresge recognized the importance of GHC’s work in Greensboro and added an additional $125,000 to continue GHC’s effort. 

Greensboro Housing Coalition has now undertaken the task of matching Kresge’s $125,000  by July, 2016. “The matching funds will help us serve more people in the community, stated executive director, Brett Byerly.  “GHC and our partners know how crucial this work is in the health of children and families,” Byerly continued, “mold, pests, lead paint and other safety hazards put children at risk everyday here in Greensboro.  The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro has taken the lead in matching funding and we hope that other folks will realize the importance of our “Healthy Homes” work.”

Many low income tenants do not realize their rights or don’t know how to advocate for themselves when they are living in substandard housing.  Part of GHC’s mission is educate both the tenant and the landlord on both parties’ rights and responsibilities.  GHC’s Healthy Homes Team are headed by a Public Health Educator, the entire team is committed to the holistic needs of the children and familes of our community.  To learn more about GHC or to donate to the matching funds visit: www.greensborohousingcoalition.com"

- A Press Release

COMMUNITY TABLES ANNOUNCES ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST FOR THE NEEDY IN GREENSBORO, NC

"Community Tables will be hosting the 29^th Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast at the Congregational United Church of Christ, 400 W Radiance Dr, Greensboro, NC 27403 from 10:30am until 2:00pm on Thanksgiving Day.  The fellowship hall will be open to anyone who is homeless, experiencing food insecurity or who might otherwise be alone on the holiday.  Community Tables and CUCC provide a family atmosphere with a traditional Thanksgiving Meal served buffet style.  A bus will provide free transportation from Center City Park and the Interactive Resource Center to the church and back starting at 10:00 am Thursday morning.  Volunteers arrange donated flowers and linen for the tables, and serve as waiters. 

Separate components of the meal are prepared at other locations, including Victory Junction, a camp in Randleman for kids with serious illnesses, which roasts all the 1,500 pounds of boneless turkey breasts and mashes potatoes, and Painted Plate Catering in Greensboro, which prepares gravy and stuffing.  

Volunteers deliver these items to the kitchen at the Greensboro Coliseum, where other volunteers carve the turkeys; cook green beans and package portions of those foods and cranberry sauce into boxes; and cut slices of sweet potato pies that have been purchased and put them into individual containers.

Then, volunteers from churches and non-profits partnering with Community Tables pick up the meals and either serve them at their own facilities or deliver them to people at their homes.

In recent years, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro has handled fundraising for Community Tables, allowing its volunteers and partner agencies to focus on preparing, serving and delivering the meals.  100% of the money raised is spent on food for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Donors may support the Thanksgiving and/or Christmas dinner through a contribution to the Thanksgiving/Holiday Fund, and also may designate that some or their entire gift support the Christmas dinner held at Bender’s Tavern. 

Greensboro and the surrounding area was #1 in Food Insecurity in the country this year.  The number of requests for meals this year has nearly doubled that of recent years.  This project needs donations in order to continue this tradition and support those in need in our community.

TO GIVE to the Thanksgiving/Holiday Fund, visit CFGG.org OR, mail a check earmarked for the Thanksgiving/Holiday Fund to: 

CFGG

330 S Greene St #100

Greensboro, NC  27401

To Volunteer:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F45ACAC2FA2F58-community"

- A Press Release

Greensboro Housing Coalition receives $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Brett Byerly, Greensboro Housing Coalition,
Executive Director and Anna McLeod, President,
Board of Directors, Greensboro Housing Coalition.

"At the Women to Women Celebration Luncheon on October 19th Greensboro Housing Coalition (GHC) was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.  This grant will fund GHC’s ongoing program that keeps families together when housing becomes an issue. This program is designed to help families that are facing possible foster care placement of their children because of parental homelessness. GHC receives clients through referrals from the Department of Social Services.

Working in partnership with Child Protective Services GHC helps the client family obtain affordable housing.

“With this generous grant we will be able to help more families in our community,” stated Executive Director Brett Byerly, “Greensboro Housing Coalition is continuously striving to empower women to achieve economic independence and that, of course, includes safe, affordable housing.”"

- A Press Release

Teens grant $10,000 to youth-led initiatives in Guilford County

"GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Teen Grantmaking Council (TGC) of The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro this month awarded $10,000 in grants to 11 youth-lead service projects in Guilford County. TGC is an organization composed of 30 high school students from Guilford County that awards grants to other youth wanting to make a difference in their community. This year, the winning projects focused on food insecurity, STEM education, at-risk immigrant youth, dance education for underprivileged youth, children’s literacy, therapeutic horseback riding and highlighting positive youth through the media.

The grant process is the core of a seven-month program. Beginning in September, TGC meets once a month. Before its members can begin to award grants, they begin by learning what it means to be a philanthropist. They decide what issues they would like to tackle with the funds they are allotted from the Foundation. Then a Request for Proposals is released so that young grant-seekers can apply for funding. TGC members read the proposals and interview grant-seekers before making final decisions about funding.

The focus of a grant celebration March 2 at the Carolina Theatre was to highlight the 11 groups that received funding. Each group was invited to the stage to briefly share their project with the community. Grantees were both middle school and high school students from Guilford County. Members of TGC then handed them a large presentation check.

TGC members also shared their experience with the program. Haley Durbin, a senior at Page High School, shared how her four years at TGC transformed her from shy and timid to a confident public speaker.

TGC is a unique opportunity for youth. Conventional portrayals suggest many teens are lazy, inexperienced and irresponsible, and few would be willing – or trusting enough – to allow teens to grant other teens money to help the community. However, given the opportunity to decide how to fund youth-led initiatives, TGC members rise to the occasion. Understanding the gravity of the responsibility placed on them, they must make difficult decisions on how to use their funds. They gain leadership and teamwork experience by learning to make group decisions through consensus.

TGC allows them to have a voice in their community. Its members represent a diverse group of youth in Guilford County, all of whom wish to make a difference. They continue to come to TGC meetings not for themselves, but for what they can do for others. High School Seniors – for their final TGC event – reflected on their experience, expressing their gratitude for all they have learned from being a part of an incredible group of young people. This year’s celebration was a touching reminder of how young people can be a positive force in their community. 

Grantees left the celebration with their large checks and the funds to begin their projects. But what TGC members, parents, educators and community members can take home with them are stories of youth looking for a way to do something meaningful. When empowered with the tools to make a difference, young people will work to building a better community for the future.

By Natasha Derezinski-Choo

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About The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Inc.

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is a charitable organization dedicated to strengthening the community for present and future generations. The Community Foundation promotes philanthropy, builds and maintains a permanent collection of endowment funds and serves as a trustworthy partner and leader in shaping effective responses to community issues and opportunities. Visit CFGG.org and follow us on Facebook, You Tube, LinkedIn and Twitter."

- A Press Release