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This August, the Davie Community Foundation received grant requests that far exceeded the dollars available to award community grants.

“After careful consideration, four organizations were selected as recipients,” said Jane Simpson, president and CEO of the foundation.

• Cooleemee Elementary School was awarded $13,620 for a Literacy Proficiency Growth Plan to add a layer of support to increase student growth and proficiency in reading.

Due to a significant reduction in the Title 1 budget, the school has been unable to maintain as many part-time instructional assistants. This grant will enable the school to hire an additional part-time reading tutor and a part-time reading instructional assistant.

Currently, the school has two dedicated reading specialists focused on the most intensive interventions. The new funding will allow the school to provide supplemental support to a group of students helping them access grade-level texts, understand key vocabulary, and improve comprehension. This initiative is designed to increase reading proficiency across all grade levels for the 2024-2025 school year, ultimately developing stronger reading skills and promoting lifelong learning among students.

• House of Hope Piedmont received $15,100 to replace the HVAC system in the lower level of the facility. Their current unit serves their 4,500-square-foot area, which includes five bedrooms with full baths, a kitchen, and a space dedicated to community workshops and training.

The organization, a Christian-based nonprofit ministry, is led by Bob Bailey and his wife Diana. House of Hope Piedmont provides a residential treatment program for troubled teenage girls aged 13 to 17. Their mission is to help these young women overcome challenges such as addiction, social media issues, depression, self-harm, abuse, and more, while aiming to restore their relationships with their families.

“The goal is for Davie County to have a facility that will support teens and families for years to come, all while providing hope and healing to teens and parents in need. A community effort to be proud of,” Bob Bailey, director, said.

• The Yadkin Valley Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) has been awarded $4,000 to support the“Fields of Faith” and “Courts for Christ” events. FCA’s mission is to “lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church.” FCA seeks to help students develop leadership and interpersonal skills, integrity, an attitude of servanthood, a sense of community and inclusivity and a goal of excellence in all they seek to do.

At the high school level, their initiatives are student-led, requiring participants to apply their leadership and interpersonal skills to organize and execute events. The previous two “Fields of Faith” events saw remarkable growth, with community participation rising from 400 to 643 attendees over two years. The organization aims to attract at least 800 participants to their October “Fields of Faith” event. Additionally, “Courts for Christ” has been introduced to engage the community during the winter months. The grant will help cover expenses, including food, decorations, a guest speaker, and sound equipment for these events.

In partnership with the Mebane Charitable Foundation, the YMCA of Northwest NC was awarded a generous grant of $7,500 for their Second Grade Swim: Safety Around Water Program. According to the CDC, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children 14 and under in the United States with approximately 750 young lives lost each year. The Safety Around Water Program aims to combat this alarming statistic by fostering a safe, supportive environment that instills character values, self-confidence, and essential water safety skills. Each year, the Davie Family YMCA collaborates with the Davie County School System to offer this vital program to all second-grade students across the county’s six elementary schools. The program includes a week-long course featuring a combination of one hour of classroom instruction and one hour of pool time each day. Evaluations are conducted on the first and last day to track students’ progress. The objective is for every child to master at least one water safety skill they couldn’t perform at the beginning of the week. By participating in this program, students significantly enhance their water safety knowledge and reduce their risk of drowning.

“Many wonderful requests were received in August, making funding decisions difficult” stated Jane Simpson, President/CEO of the Davie Community Foundation. “We believe the grants awarded to these four organizations are driving essential improvements and supporting programs that benefit the community.”

The Davie Community Foundation Inc. “inspires philanthropy to strengthen Davie County for present and future generations.” The Foundation is working to promote a spirit of giving in our community and build a permanent endowment that is invested forever. Earnings from the endowment will benefit Davie County organizations and projects that are important to you. The Foundation accepts gifts in any amount, at any time: for an existing fund, the Community Scholarship Fund, or the Davie Community Impact Fund. A variety of options for establishment of named funds in honor or memory are also available. To learn more about the Davie Community Foundation contact Jane Simpson at (336) 753-6903 or jsimpson@daviefoundation.org or visit the Foundation web-site at www.daviefoundation.org.