Since the first Community Action Grants were awarded in 1993, our Branch has given out 79 grants totaling $62,250. We are pleased to continue this tradition annually.
Today, the Longmont Branch of the American Association of University Women offers one or more Community Action Grants to local projects that help break down barriers among people of all ages, ethnic origins and gender. In general, $2,500 or more is available in grant monies and may be divided among several applicants. Depending on the applications, all or a portion may be awarded.
Qualifying projects should:
- Promote education and equity for women and girls
- Be nonpolitical
- Benefit the public
- Respond to a community need
- Fall within the geographical boundary of the St. Vrain Valley School District
Application forms and procedures are posted on the Longmont Community Foundation website by mid-March with deadline of mid-April.
For information, contact Gayle Rainey, 303-772-6411, grainey46@gmail.com
2020 Recipients
Our Branch awarded a total of $3,000 to these impactful organizations to support their efforts in providing equity and opportunities to women and girls of color in our community.
Open Door ESL was awarded $1,000 to provide tuition assistance for their student volunteers and expand their Testing Center hours. Open Door offers quality, affordable job enhancement and college prep English classes as well as High School Equivalency (HSE) courses to second language learners. These courses help participants get better jobs and provide them with the tools to get involved in the community. Many Open Door students have college degrees from other countries but are held back due to their lack of English skills. Open Door HSE programming has been highly successful with demand doubling in the past year and putting pressure on the Testing Center, only 1 of 2 in Colorado.
Longmont High School Education Foundation was awarded $1,000 to assist the Arriba Club put on a College Bootcamp to increase awareness and education of Hispanic and Latino students, primarily female, and their parents, and families, on how to access and navigate resources available to them through the St. Vrain Valley School District and college systems. Practical how-to topics such as getting on track for advanced classes in high school; strengthening home and school connections; and navigating college life after high school will be presented during the camp. The grant will go toward the purchase of a wireless audio translation system used to assist with communication to and among the participants.
El Comité de Longmont was awarded $1,000 to help maintain their programs focused on Increasing self-sufficiency for their clients including case management, translation and notary services, and collaboration with community agencies and businesses. The award will also go toward English language and citizenship classes and testing preparation as well as support opportunities for El Comité to be a community bridge builder in the areas of culture, social justice, and community understanding.
2019 Recipients
$3,000 in Community Action Grants Awarded …
Ellie Stoakes and Meghan Peters from Community Health Education & “The Period Pals Project” board members Sara King and Liz Mac
The Longmont Branch awarded three Community Action Grants to support these deserving local projects in May.
- $1,000 to the Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center’s “Community Health Education”. This project provides free, comprehensive sexual health education, a 24-hour health text line and website Q&As, as well as referrals to preventative health care services.
- $1,000 to “The Period Pals Project”. This award will go toward providing free menstrual supplies in St. Vrain Valley Schools. The lack of these supplies is an unseen contributor to the achievement gap and student equity, an obstacle to academic success of our most vulnerable students.
- $1,000 to “ELPASO Voz”, a project of the Engaged Latino Parents Advancing Student Outcomes group. The project is focused on helping Latino parents in Longmont gain the skills they need to help their children enter kindergarten ready to learn.