Grants range from $18,225 to $99,190 and support work across five of the Foundation’s priority funding categories, including health care; human services; community and economic development; education; and, arts and culture.

“The Foundation’s responsive grants program is an essential part of our efforts to collaborate with nonprofits, local governments and faith-based institutions to create more impactful outcomes for people living in our region,” said Cameron Board Chair J. Tolleison Morriss, VI. The Foundation offers two responsive grant cycles per year in addition to investing proactively and providing an assortment of capacity-building resources for its community partners.

Cameron Grants Committee Chair Jeff Geisz noted that, while many of the awards this cycle underwrite ongoing and established programs, some funding also was directed to new grantees to implement programs for youth development in the region. “It’s encouraging to see some of these new youth-serving organizations expanding into the Tri-Cities area,” said Geisz.

As one example, Podium Foundation received $20,000 to expand its Youth Literacy Intervention Program into Hopewell and Petersburg. The organization seeks to empower youth ages 10-19 to become confident and capable writers by offering free writing and communications workshops, quarterly publications and showcases, and annual teen professional development programs. Founded in 2008 and serving the greater Richmond area, Cameron’s funding aids in the organization’s goal to reach into the Tri-Cities area.

Another youth-serving organization, Boys to Men Mentoring Network of Virginia, also received its first Cameron award this cycle. After Boys to Men expanded its national model into the Tri-Cities last year, Cameron’s $21,827 in funding will support weekly mentoring in several locations to help male teens to develop healthy decision-making skills.

Noting that youth development is one of the Foundation’s funding priorities, President Nadine Marsh-Carter explained, “We recognize that our region has some of the highest rates of children and youth living below the federal poverty level. So, we are pleased to invest in evidence-based programs that support youth developing increased knowledge, skills and abilities to make good choices. This approach leads to better quality-of-life outcomes for the next generation.”