The RBC donated a sunflower sculpture to the St. Charles County Arts Council. The Council supports arts education and public art in St. Charles County.
Small Change, Big Impact Grant Program
The RBC’s overall mission is to make St. Louis a better place to live and work. The It’s Our Region Fund is a strategy to do just that by contributing to capital improvement projects that enhance the quality of daily life, leave a lasting legacy by spreading tangible acts of good will throughout the region, and demonstrate the value of corporate collective action.
The goal of the Small Change-Big Impact grants is to support one-time capital improvement projects that may seem small but have a big impact because they are in places used and appreciated by so many people every day. Grants are given to non-profits and community agencies for projects under $10,000, as these are often the most difficult for smaller agencies to fund.
Last year, we received applications from 160 worthy organizations. We selected twenty awardees that represented a wide range of diverse and meaningful projects throughout the region, each of which received a share of $111,000 in grants. Most of these organizations had no other source of funds to implement critically needed capital improvements to serve their respective populations.
We are genuinely thrilled that so many organizations applied for funding in the first year. The winning projects had an immediate impact on the lives of many people, and it’s been gratifying and inspiring to see these projects come to fruition.
Projects selected ranged from the Affton Christian Food Pantry, receiving $4,000 for new refrigerators as they were turning away donations of food due to lack of adequate storage, to the KIPP Charter Middle School, receiving $10,000 to provide mats for gym walls and other safety improvements, and Friends of Luca Park, receiving $8,000 for irrigation and landscaping in the downtown St. Louis park. Below is the complete list of 2012 It’s Our Region Fund recipients.
Because of the success of the funding, as well as growing corporate spirit to collectively work together for the betterment of our community, we are pleased to offer this funding opportunity again. The 2013 winners will be announced no later than November 1.
|
Agency |
Mission |
Project |
Cost |
|
Affton Christian Food Pantry South St. Louis County |
Provides food and assistance to those in need |
4 refrigerators as agency is currently having to turn away food donations due to lack of space |
$4,000 |
|
Angels’ Arms West St. Louis County |
Foster care for sibling groups |
Replace the roof on one of the foster homes |
$8,000 |
|
Central Institute for the Deaf Central West End, St. Louis |
School for children with hearing disabilities |
Fund upgrades to playground |
$3,500 |
|
Charles Gravius Library Madison County, IL |
Library outside a tax district in Metro East |
Repair cracked and dangerous sidewalk outside library |
$3,500 |
|
City of Cool Valley North St. Louis County |
North County Municipality, population 1,196 |
Community garden to bring youth and seniors together |
$5,000 |
|
Contemporary Art Museum Grand Center District, St. Louis |
Arts education initiatives for inner city students |
portable sound system and electronic projection screen to be used in education programs |
$5,000 |
|
Craft Alliance Delmar Loop |
Provides arts education to the community |
Replace computer server and purchase outdated desktop computers |
$7,500 |
|
Friends of Lucas Park Downtown St. Louis |
Guardians of Lucas Park next to Central Library |
New irrigation and landscaping in park |
$8,000 |
|
KIPP South St. Louis City |
High performing charter middle school |
Mats to cover gym walls and construction of handicapped accessible ramp |
$10,000 |
|
Magic House Kirkwood |
St. Louis children’s museum |
Creation of a quiet room for children |
$6,500 |
|
Memory Care Home Solutions Richmond Heights |
In-home care and support for Alzheimer’s patients |
Assistive devices for in-home use |
$5,000 |
|
Northside Community Housing The Ville, North St. Louis City |
Safe and decent housing for low income families |
Community garden to provide healthy food for residents |
$5,000 |
|
Old North Restoration Group Old North, St. Louis |
Neighborhood association for historic Old North neighborhood |
Creation of multi-purpose outdoor community space |
$5,000 |
|
Our Lady’s Inn South St. Louis City |
Shelter for homeless pregnant women and their children |
Used van to transport residents and assist with moving into permanent housing |
$7,500 |
|
Our Little Haven Central West End, St. Louis |
Services for children suffering from trauma |
Kitchen renovation for pre-school |
$3,500 |
|
Shalom House Central West End, St. Louis |
Shelter for homeless women |
Beds, dressers, and mattresses |
$7,500 |
|
Shaw Place Association South St. Louis City |
Neighborhood association for Shaw Place |
Landscaping along highway exit ramp |
$500 |
|
St. Charles County Arts Council St. Charles County |
Supports arts education and public art in St. Charles County |
Sunflower sculpture in public garden for St. Charles residents |
$3,000 |
|
St. Louis F.O.R.C.E. Athleticz North County |
Competitive basketball program for girls |
Basketballs, uniforms, first aid equipment, and instructional aids |
$3,500 |
|
Urban Harvest Downtown St. Louis |
Community gardens to produce healthy food for low income families |
Rooftop community garden |
$10,000 |
|
|
|
TOTAL: |
$111,000 |