And the awards go to...

The RunningBrooke Fund and ACTion Alexandria would like to thank everyone who submitted an application and those who showed their support by voting for their favorite nonprofit’s Caring for Kids Grant Challenge idea.  We received an overwhelming response!  Fifty nonprofit organizations applied and it was very difficult to make a decision. So difficult, that we decided to grant six awards instead of three. We can’t thank you enough for spreading the word about these grants and promoting these amazing programs.  We learned about some great new and existing programs, and hope you did, too. 

Here are the awardees!

Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network - $5,000 - sprucing up the blacktops at John Adams and Maury Elementary schools by painting the hardscapes with bright colors and creating play areas such as 4-square and hopscotch, a US map, and basketball courts and equipment such as  jump ropes, balls and tag football belts.

Alexandria Police Youth Camp - $3,500 - providing scholarships for 10 at-risk kids to attend summer camp, learn leadership skills and interact with police officers in a new way. 

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium - $3,500 - expanding the Reading Readiness program to 2 additional schools and reach 35 more kindergartners who need tutoring in early literacy skills.

Center for Alexandria's Children - $4,000 - supporting an additional playgroup site, including facilitators, books, toys and supplies for one year.

Cora Kelly PTA - $1,500 - enhancing health and wellness learning for Cora Kelly Elementary students and their families, and hosting Family Fitness events on nutrition and physical activity, as well as leveraging opportunities such as Walk/Bike to School. 

QuinTango - $2,500 - supporting Tango & Soccer, a  gender-balanced after-school program designed to develop  life skills (respect, focus, confidence, diligence) by teaching the basics of soccer and tango.   

We look forward to sharing with you more about these awardees and the grant outcome of the grants in the near future.