The Gaudet Committee announced the awarding of ten community grants for the 2018 program year. The Gaudet Community Grant provides funding for not-for-profit agencies that create, manage, and expand educational opportunities for African-American children within the Diocese of Louisiana.
The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is proud to honor the legacy of Mrs. Frances Joseph Gaudet, a turn-of-the century educator and activist. Mrs. Gaudet had the wisdom to leave her trust to the Episcopal Church in such a way that her mission would continue to find new ways of expression in changing times. Mrs. Gaudet dedicated her life to building alliances with people of every race and class. The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is committed to keeping her purpose alive.
The 2018 Gaudet Community Grant recipients are:
A’s & Aces
A’s for Aces is a sports-based youth development organization that uses tennis as a hook for teaching New Orleans children critical life skills and literacy lessons. Funding will be used in the Pathway to College Program, which will work with 100 students in the 2018-2019 academic year. Children ages 6-16 will come from various public schools and participate through after-school, weekend, summer and holiday camp programs. Grant funds will be used to provide professional, caring staff to work with these children in a program that is carefully designed to bolster academic performances, literacy, behavioral growth, and the ability to play tennis and exercise. (Amount awarded: $5,000)
More information: www.asandaces.org/
Anna’s Place NOLA
Anna’s Place NOLA after School and Saturday and Arts Academic Program’s goal is to integrate academics with art enrichment and healthy lifestyle choices drawing together the education, arts and medical aspects of our work for children of Tremè and the Seventh Ward. The After-school program includes an ethics and morals education program called Learning for Life (developed by the Boy Scouts of America; homework assistance; reading tutoring with Sylvan Learning, STAIR (Start the Adventure in Reading), and individual tutor STEM classes with the Electric Girls and NOLA Code programs and Microsoft Store; field trips to the N.O. Museum of Art and Loyola Biology department labs. The Saturday Kids’ Program focus is on the arts and includes instrumental music lesson therapy; music introduction/music theory; social skills (following Boy Scouts of America’s Learning for Life curriculum); dance (led by a local dance artist); drumming; vocal music, and healthy lifestyle education (gardening, nutrition, and yoga). Funding will be used to support full-time staff who coordinate all aspects of the program as well as teach; local artist instructors; the STAIR program, and transportation costs. (Award amount $10,000).
The second grant awarded to Anna’s Place NOLA is for the summer camp program. Anna’s Place NOLA summer camp program offers academic enrichment activities to promote continued learning. These activities will include a reading tutoring program with Sylvan Learning and/or the STAIR program, and STEM classes in collaboration with the Electric Girls, NOLA Code and/or the Microsoft Store. Activities in arts such as instrumental music lessons by LPO or other professional musicians, visual arts lessons (led by a local artist), music therapy, music introduction/music theory, dance (led by a local dance artist), drum and vocal music ensembles. Social skills development classes follow the Boy Scouts of Americas Learning for Life curriculum focusing on morals and ethics, and healthy lifestyle education (gardening, nutrition, and/or health classes), field trips or presentations from local organizations and swimming lessons. (Award amount $10,000)
More information: https://annasplacenola.org/
Arts Council of Point Coupee
The Arts Council of Point Coupee provides visual arts instruction for the students at the STEM Magnet Academy of Pointe Coupee through the Learning Life Lessons Through Arts Program. Grant funds will be used for Summer Arts Camp, for books, art materials, contracting artists, and BRSO musicians. (Award amount: $4,700)
More information: www.artscouncilofpointecoupee.org/
Grow Dat Youth Farm
The Grow Dat Youth Farm’s mission is to nurture a diverse group of young leaders through the meaningful work of growing food. Grow Dat offers stipends to high school students through leadership programs. Participants come to the farm in the afternoons and Saturday to grow, harvest, sell, donate, and cook healthy food on the sustainable farm located in the New Orleans City Park. Gaudet funds will be used for youth stipends, transportation costs, and educational supplies for leadership programs. (Award amount $5,000)
More information: http://growdatyouthfarm.org/
Kid’s Orchestra
The Kid’s Orchestra brings quality and affordable afterschool music and academic enrichment programs for all K-5 students across all socio-economic backgrounds from 24 partner schools in Baton Rouge. Program components include quality music instruction, homework assistance, tutoring, and opportunities to perform in a children’s orchestra. Gaudet funds will provide 10 full-year scholarships. (Award amount $6,000)
More information: http://kidsorchestra.org/
Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights
The Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights (LCCR) connects New Orleans most vulnerable children- young people who fall into the juvenile justice system- with educational opportunity. Gaudet funds will partially support two education advocate staff positions working with the LCCR’s Right to Learn Project, a program that address the need of the children by aiming to keep youth in school, increase graduation rate, and reduce the likelihood of becoming further involved in the justice system. Gaudet funds will partially support two education advocate staff positions. (Award amount $5,000)
More information: http://www.laccr.org/
Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR)
Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR) is a 32-year-old children’s literacy program that provides free one-on-one tutoring in reading and language skills to lower elementary public school students at risk of failing. Gaudet funds are to be used to support three of twenty-five tutoring sites (St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Tulane University-Chapel of the Holy Spirit, and St. George’s Episcopal Church) by providing reading practice books, workbooks, flashcards, basic school supplies, healthy snacks, and trained site directors. (Award amount $3,000)
More information: http://stairnola.org/
Trinity Educational Enrichment Program (TEEP)
The Trinity Educational Enrichment Program (TEEP) is a summer educational program for 5th and 6th graders, as well as pre-K children, from at-risk, and/or disadvantaged homes. Campers receive breakfast and hot lunch daily, and attend classes taught by certified instructors in science, math, art, music, and language arts. Afternoon activities include guest speakers, field trips, swimming lessons, and other organized recreation such as dance and drama. Gaudet funds will be used for program expenses. (Award amount $7,300)
More information: https://www.trinitynola.com/page.aspx?pid=784
Upturn Arts
Upturn Arts is a non-profit art organization providing outreach and support services to at-risk children through art education. Gaudet funds will provide scholarships to 10 children from low-income families to attend a 2-week summer camp. (Award amount $4,000)
More information: http://upturnarts.org/