2010 Grant Recipients

2010 GRANT RECIPIENTS


A total of $150,000 in grants were awarded by Operation Our Town during the 2010 grant cycles for the following proven prevention and treatment programs:

Altoona Area Public Library: Living Across the Ages
Nine-week program aimed at having young people connect with older adults in the area who will serve as role models and emotional supports through positive engagement and interaction.

Altoona Area Public Library: Summer Art Institute
A four-week program being offered with the Youth Empowerment: Living & Learning (YELL) after-school program at the Altoona Library that will focus on poetry, theater, creative writing, and painting.

Altoona Area School District: Project SOAR
Pilot project which has identified 20 students in the AASD who will receive financial assistance to pursue a post secondary education, given that they meet program guidelines and participate fully in the program.

Bellwood-Antis School District: Bellwood-Antis After Hours
After school and summer programs for Bellwood-Antis School District elementary students, including field trips, arts, crafts, wellness, character education, and family outings.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Blair County: Mentoring Program
A one-to-one youth mentoring program offered to children ages 6 to 18 in Blair County who reside in single-parent or assigned guardian families and families with histories of substance abuse and/or domestic violence and are in need of a positive role model.

Blair County Adult Parole & Probation Office: A Framework for Breaking Barriers
A video training series for all clients of the criminal justice system that provides clients with the tools necessary to develop cognitive skills so that change can take place.

Blair Co. Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Blair Co. Adult Program: Booker T. Washington Project, Passive Park
The 2010 Class of Leadership Blair County’s class project: A passive park that will encompass three lots at the corner of 13th Avenue & 19th Street and will consist of shade trees, benches, walkways, picnic tables, and areas for other relaxed recreation.

Blair County Drug & Alcohol Program, Inc.: Physician Service Coordination
The program will employ a Physician Service Coordinator to provide support and coordination of physician-based buprenorphine services and will also help individuals gain access to an appropriate level of drug and alcohol counseling and/or mental health services.

Blair County Drug & Alcohol Program, Inc.: Student Assistance Training Program
Three-day training provided for personnel who are being added to existing SAP teams in Blair County to aid school personnel in indentifying & assisting students experiencing problems in school due to mental health or drug or alcohol use.

Blair County Juvenile Probation: Juvenile Drug Court
The Juvenile Drug Court Judge and a team comprised of representatives from treatment, juvenile justice, social services, schools, probation, counseling agencies, the prosecution, and the defense determine how best to address the substance abuse and related problems of the juvenile offender and his/her family.

Child Advocates of Blair County, Inc.: Parent-Child Home Program
National evidence-based, research validated early childhood literacy, parenting, and school readiness program that provides intensive home visiting to at-risk families with children between 18 months to 4 years of age.

Claysburg-Kimmel Cares: Strengthening Families Program
Evidence-based program that consists of seven interactive, video-based sessions conducted over consecutive weeks to 8-10 families to help reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use in Blair County.

Family Services, Inc.: SWOOP-Street Outreach Program
Program that conducts outreach efforts and provides support services to at-risk teens through street, community, school, and internet outreach activities.

Garver Memorial YMCA: After-school Program
Nine-month program designed for children in kindergarten through age thirteen that covers school homework help, physical and recreational activities, leadership skills, character development and having fun through social play.

Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation: After-school Program
After-school and summer programs provided for children ages 5 through 12 in a daily structured setting held within the housing developments of Evergreen Manors, Fairview Hills, and Logan Hills.

IDA Community Development Corporation: Evergreen Manors Supportive Services
Assists families in need and provides opportunities to residents to participate in classes, events, workshops, and presentations.

Joshua House, Inc.: Joshua House Community Center
A faith-based nonprofit organization with a mission to build community in kids, teens, and young adults through athletics, education, and faith and provides after-school activities and mentoring opportunities for youth in Northern Blair County, specifically Tyrone.

The Family Resource Center @ United Way of Blair Co.: Altoona Community Garden
Expansion of a community garden located at 830 7th Avenue, Altoona that intends to beautify the community by transforming a blighted lot into a productive element of the neighborhood, reduce crime by promoting community involvement, and providing productive activities to strengthen families.

The Nehemiah Project: 11th Street After-school Program
After-school program that will target at-risk children in the lower Fairview region of Altoona by focusing on homework tutoring, reading, and math skills, and positive interaction between children.

The ROCK: After-school Program
After-school program for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade held at the 2nd Avenue United Methodist Church, which includes a meal, recreational period, arts & crafts time, game time, and a lesson period.

Tyrone Area School District: Tyrone Tackles Tobacco & Truancy
Will fund the expansion of the existing tobacco education program used for first-time offender students who are charged with the use/possession of tobacco products on school property.

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