2008 Community Assistance Grant Recipient:
The JLR is pleased to announce that Wilson Commencement Park’s RAFIKI program is this year’s recipient of the $5,000 Community Assistance Grant. The RAFIKI program is a rites of passage mentoring program that targets teen women and gives them a cause for hope. Over a 20 week period the young women in the program will be educated in six different modules, including fostering lasting relationships, etiquette, health and nutrition, and literacy skills. The program hopes to help its participants foster self confidence, social skills, and live long learning skills that they can apply to all facets of their lives and their futures. The grant to the RAFIKI program was presented at the 75th Anniversary Diamond Gala.

-Amy Hall, 2007-2008 Community Assistance Grant Chair

2007 Community Assistance Grant Recipient:
The Heritage Christian Services, The Pieter’s Family Life Center was the recipient of the 2007 Community Assistance Grant in the amount of $13,000. The grant will be used to develop a new mentorship program that will promote friendship, acceptance and understanding by merging the lives of teen-age girls who are disabled with those of teen girls who do not have a disability. Together, the girls will enjoy programs such as cooking, art, music, and fitness. The check was presented to the winner at the JLR Spring Fundraiser at Oak Hill Country Club.

The 2006 Community Assistance Grant Recipient was Children Awaiting Parents, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding loving adoptive families for legally free children in Monroe County who have languished the longest in the foster care system. 

Mini-grants (1972 - 2005):  For over 30 years, this JLR initiative gave annual grants of up to $1,000 to not-for-profit organizations focusing on women's programs. The effect of giving money via the mini-grants process was that the results generated by the various agencies will ripple throughout a broader area of our community. Some of the past recipients awarded mini-grants include:

• The Advocacy Center

• American Diabetes Association – ADA Camp

• Bethany House

• Bishop Sheen Ecumenical 

• Boys & Girls Club

• Breast Cancer Coalition

• Center for Youth – Looking Good/ Feeling Good

• Children Awaiting Parents 

• Compeer

• Gilda's Club of Rochester/Cancer Action

• Hope Hall

• Literacy Volunteers/Step-by-Step of Rochester

• Mercy Residential Services

• Planned Parenthood

• Problem Pregnancy Help Center

• Prison Outreach

• The Salvation Army

• Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach-Jennifer House

• Strong Ties Community Support Program

• Toy Resource Library