5 East St. Louis nonprofits receive one-time youth grants

The United Way of Greater St. Louis has given five East St. Louis agencies one time youth grants, each worth $25,440.

The grants, called Community Enhancement Grants, are investments that United Way makes to a specific community or to help with an emerging need, the group said.

The recipients were: the Griffin Center, Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, Mt. Sinai Family Life Center, the Christian Activity Center and Nu Chi. The event was held Thursday at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in East St. Louis.

Francella Jackson, chairman of East St. Louis One Time Grants Committee, said, “Any nonprofit agency meeting the criteria of the grant — not just United Way partner agencies — can apply. These one-time grants give the five non-profits the opportunity to start new programs, enhance an area of service or to purchase needed equipment and supplies. Community Enhancement Grants are another way that the United Way makes our region a better place for all of us.”

Mayor Emeka Jackson Hicks was on hand to see the five agencies receive their awards.

“I want to thank the United Way for being a partner with the city as well as an entity that supports the city and our children. The money will go a long way towards helping our children live the lives they deserve to live. I am excited. And, let’s continue the work,” Jackson Hicks said.

Diane Sonneman, director of the Griffin Center, said the United Way investment is going to go a long way in providing quality programs for the children who live in East St .Louis Public Housing. It will help the development of their academic ans social and emotional skills, she said.

Griffin Center provides “tutoring, homework assistance, computer instruction with Internet access, chess clubs, a science and wonders singing and dance group, family reading night, reader’s theater for kids” and more at four of the city’s public housing complexes, Sonneman said.

Griffin Center also participates in Jackie Joyner Kersee’s Winning In Life program. It has lots of arts and crafts activities, games and more for the children and their families, Sonneman said.

Reginald Box, president of Nu Chi, said the money will go toward his group’s Project Manhood Program, which provides educational sessions and field activities for black males ages 8-18.

“We will use the money for Career Day Initiatives by exploring various careers at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis and military careers at Scott Air Force Base. We’ll also utilize the money to sponsor college tours for high school students at multiple historical black colleges. The young people will get first-hand knowledge from the administrators,” Box said.

Chris Coleman, the newly appointed president of Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, said, “We will expand and enhance our after-school and out-of-school programming. We provide tutoring and academic enrichment and promote healthy lifestyles. We really do appreciate the United Way for helping us to continue our mission of serving the people of East St. Louis, and our youth are priority,” Coleman said.

Dennis Jackson, executive director of Sinai Family Life Center, said, “There are no words that adequately say how much this money means to us. We are going to be able to continue providing for Winstanley children and for all of the children of East St. Louis.

“We do after-school programs. We do a reading program where the children read for 30 minutes every day. We provide tutoring and provide a full balanced meal for each child. We do the JJK Winning In Life program where they learn how to eat well, build character and exercise,” Jackson said.

Chet Cantrell, executive director of the Christian Activity Center, said he was pleased that his organization was a recipient because children are a priority.

“This helps us to continue to move forward with the work we are doing to ensure that all of the children we serve can have healthy, happy and productive lives. We also work with them to help shape their futures as productive citizens,” Cantrell said.

For more than five years, United Way of Greater St. Louis, has allocated more than $127,200 to organizations in the greater East St. Louis area to expand programs that help prepare young people for school and life.

Burdett Rice, co-chair of the One Time Grants Committee, said, “The five agencies who received grant money this time around were chosen from a pool of 31 applicants. The grants ... are to be used to conduct youth activities within the East St. Louis area from Sept. 1 through next Aug. 31.

This story was originally published August 30, 2016 at 9:57 AM with the headline "5 East St. Louis nonprofits receive one-time youth grants."