On May 20, SOS members, grant recipients, friends and families gathered virtually to celebrate the culmination of our 2019-2020 grant cycle by distributing $213,000 to 10 nonprofits who work tirelessly to make our community a better place to live.

In September, SOS received 213 letters of inquiry. Sixty members reviewed them and recommended 40 agencies to provide full grant proposals.  From January through March, those 40 agencies were vetted by 71 SOS members through proposal reviews and site visits. Twenty agencies were placed on the final ballot for our members’ voting consideration.

This took an enormous amount of time, talent and treasure on the part of our dedicated SOS membership.Thanks to them for their dedication and hard work.

Since its founding in 2006 the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund has invested $2.7 million in the Greater St. Louis community. And with the help of our dedicated membership we will continue to invest in the greater St Louis region, by building relationships and financially supporting projects that improve our community as a whole.

Please us join in congratulating the 2020-2021 Cohort of SOS Women’s Fund Grantees.

AND NOW…….DRUM ROLL PLEASE………. 

SOS 2020-2021 Grant Awards

Almost Home’s Foundations To Success Transitional Living Program  provides transitional housing and supportive services to 75 low-income, single mothers ages 16 to 21 and their children.  The grant award of $25,000 will support in-home childcare for mothers with children five years and younger while the moms attend classes or work. Almost Home’s services include housing, life skills classes, education and employment support, positive parenting instruction, therapeutic counseling and more. The program serves young moms who do not have safe or stable housing, need supportive services, and fall under the federal poverty threshold.  Over 90% of the clients Almost Home serves are African American.

Angels’ Arms Life Launch Program  works to prepare foster youth living in Angels’ Arms homes for a successful transition to adulthood.  The grant award of $20,000 will support the salary of the  Life Launch Coordinator and direct assistance to youth as needed for tutoring, clothes, school supplies, laptops and stipends for internships.   Mentors, life skills training, individualized support, and community-building are provided to youth who are aging out of the foster care system. Life Launch works to increase foster youth’s ability to maintain meaningful employment, sustain stable housing and meet educational goals to become productive members of our community.

Angels’ Arms Life Launch Program  works to prepare foster youth living in Angels’ Arms homes for a successful transition to adulthood.  The grant award of $20,000 will support the salary of the  Life Launch Coordinator and direct assistance to youth as needed for tutoring, clothes, school supplies, laptops and stipends for internships.   Mentors, life skills training, individualized support, and community-building are provided to youth who are aging out of the foster care system. Life Launch works to increase foster youth’s ability to maintain meaningful employment, sustain stable housing and meet educational goals to become productive members of our community.

Eye Thrive’s Mobile Vision Clinic  removes the barriers of access and expense that often prevent low-income children from receiving eye exams and glasses by sending a fully equipped, state-of-the-art optometry center on wheels to schools and child-centered community organizations. SOS funding of $15,000 will allow Eye Thrive to expand free Vision Screening and Mobile Vision Clinic services for children in North St. Louis County through 20 visits to St. Louis County Library branch locations this summer and fall. Eye Thrive will provide vision screenings for 600 children, comprehensive eye exams for 400 children, 380 pairs of glasses and follow-up services as needed.

Home Sweet Home  is the only furniture bank in the St. Louis area to provide free furniture and home goods to qualified families transitioning out of homelessness and into low-income housing.  The grant award is $25,000 for general operating support. Home Sweet Home’s goal is to create an environment where children do not have to sleep on the floor and where families can sit at a table together – a place where dignity and self-esteem can thrive.  Home Sweet Home currently works with 24 local agencies with more than 60 agencies on a wait list. Over 1,000 low income families will be served this year.

Migrant and Immigrant Action Project  began the  Children’s Immigrant Action Project  in August 2018 following the separation of immigrant children from their parents at the southern border.  The grant award of $25,000 supports legal services for a bilingual attorney to represent unaccompanied immigrant minors.  The main goals are to represent minors in state and immigration court; connect clients to educational, social, and medical providers; and empower immigrant communities to protect their families. Having an attorney can make an 11-fold difference in the likelihood of success in Immigration Court. 75 immigrant minors will be served in the year ahead.

Pianos for People  provides access to high quality piano instruction, summer camps, workshops, and community events for disadvantaged families in St. Louis City and County.  The $20,000 grant award will support hiring an additional teacher for free piano lessons in Ferguson.  In 2014, Pianos for People opened the Free Piano School in South St. Louis City and has since more than tripled their student body. Programming expanded into the North County Ferguson area in 2016. Pianos for People breaks down the financial barriers that prevent low-income members of our community from accessing the well-documented benefits of piano playing and musical study. It is the only agency in our region that provides free piano lessons AND free pianos to low-income residents of St. Louis City and County.

Urban Harvest St. Louis  grows wholesome, organic food across seven urban farm sites and supports a healthy community through food donation, urban agriculture education and public programming.  The grant award of $25,000 is for general operating support.  The  Food Access Program  serves north St. Louis City and County residents in communities mostly comprised of lower income, working poor populations and people of color. This year Urban Harvest will grow 5,000 pounds of fresh produce and donate 60% of the harvest to those in need through collaboration with partner nonprofits. 15 interns will be trained in community development, leadership and sustainable farming, and 1,300 people will be reached through tours, field trips and other programs.

Volunteers in Medicine, Inc.  provides free health care and medication for low income uninsured adults in St. Charles and Lincoln County.  The grant award of $15,000 will cover two months of patient medications for the on-site VIM clinic pharmacy in St. Charles.  All physicians, nurses, pharmacists and support staff are volunteers. The VIM primary healthcare clinic and pharmacy is open two days a week. Most patients have chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, asthma and COPD. Without clinically appropriate medications, the health of these patients will not improve.  Volunteers in Medicine will provide medication on-site and without charge in over 3,600 patient visits in 2020.

HONORING ORGANIZATIONS MEETING A NEED