More Than $4 Million in Grants to Help Local Nonprofits

Milwaukee, July 16, 2009 — A grant to establish a new central access system for the homeless in Milwaukee was among the more than $4 million approved by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Board and boards of its supporting organizations during the second quarter.

The Board allocated an additional $150,000 toward the Basic Needs Fund, $135,000 of which will go to 211/IMPACT. The organization, in collaboration with the Cathedral Center, will create a central database that will allow staff at area homeless shelters to identify openings and make immediate referrals for people looking for places to stay as well as provide case management services to enable families to remain in their own homes. The remainder of the grant will be used to address a possible increase in demand at local shelters during the summer.

The Foundation’s Basic Needs Fund was created at the end of 2008 to help local nonprofits meet basic food and shelter needs during the economic downturn. Between the Foundation, donors and the community, more than $543,000 has been raised for the fund to date. Since its inception, the Basic Needs Fund has made more than $507,000 in grants.

Other grants made from the Foundation’s competitive grant process include:

$100,000
Sixteenth Street Community Health Center (over two years) for continued support of its restoration and revitalization efforts of the Kinnickinnic River corridor.

City Year (over three years)for start-up funding to launch a site in Milwaukee. The Boston-based program plans to recruit 55 young adults, ages 17 to 24, to serve as tutors, mentors and leaders in five Milwaukee Public Schools over a 10-month period.

$75,000
United Way of Greater Milwaukee - Teen Pregnancy Prevention Fund to support model teen pregnancy prevention efforts. Other supporters of the fund include the Faye McBeath Foundation, Rockwell International, Brico Fund, Johnson Controls and the United Way.