San Angelo Health Foundation gives nearly $2 million in grants
Board Chair Marilyn Aboussie announced the San Angelo Health Foundation has awarded $1,983,060 to 17 nonprofit organizations.
She noted this is the largest grant commitment made in a single award period. With the addition of these grants, 206 organizations and 712 projects have benefitted from Foundation funding since inception.
Grants Chair David Lupton said the grants encompass education, health care, mental health, disaster relief and youth enrichment.
Here's a look at the grant recipients:
Grape Creek Independent School District was awarded $54,060 to purchase a greenhouse, aquaponics and hydroponics system. This unique class offers students at the Middle School the opportunity to learn horticulture hands-on.
Make-A-Wish Foundation was awarded $25,000 to grant Wishes to San Angelo children. Make-A-Wish has been granting Wishes nationwide since the 1980s to critically ill children. In San Angelo they have granted Wishes to over 70 children.
San Angelo Area Foundation was awarded $25,000 for the amplification fund for the San Angelo Gives program to be held in May 2019. This is a one day, 24-hour online fundraising effort to benefit local charities, which generated $1.6 million in donations for 173 participating organizations this year.
Sonora Flood Relief Fund was awarded $200,000 for long term recovery assistance to help those affected by the recent flooding. 279 homes had flood damage displacing hundreds of families in the community. Recovery efforts are being coordinated by the Sutton County Long Term Recovery Group.
West Texas Counseling and Guidance Center was awarded $650,000 to expand veterans programs, suicide prevention efforts and mental health services with the renovation of two floors at the Cactus Hotel. West Texas Counseling and Guidance Center has been providing services to the Concho Valley since the 1970s. Over the last 40 years the Center has served more than 70,000 men, women and children by providing mental health services including those with low incomes or without insurance.
West Texas Rehab Center was awarded $1,000,000 for the construction of a building at their current location to house Hospice of San Angelo which they acquired this year, Hospice Bereavement Services, storage for durable medical equipment and housing for their Student Therapist here for clinical rotations. The expansion allows the Rehab Center to have one campus for all of their rehabilitation and treatment programs.
Unsolicited seasonal assistance grants for 11 organizations totaling $29,000 were also awarded for holiday programming needs to: Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council, Boys & Girls Club of San Angelo, Children’s Advocacy Center, Concho Valley Home for Girls/Children's Emergency Shelter, House of Faith, ICD Family Shelter, MOSAIC San Angelo, Salvation Army, San Angelo Early Childhood Center, San Angelo State Supported Living Center Volunteer Services Council and West Texas Boys Ranch.