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Grant rewards innovative ideas, community partnerships
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BHACF awards 'signature' grant to nonprofits
responding to community needs

Oct. 16, 2020


The Black Hills Area Community Foundation’s $50,000 Community Action Grant will be shared this year by two organizations working to address two very different, but critical needs in our area: food security and early learning.
BHACF awarded $30,000 to Friends of South Dakota Public Broadcasting to support a part-time Early Education Specialist based in the Rapid City area. SDPB says this position will provide direct project support to local childcare organizations and parents, as well as coordinate communications for Early Learning Initiative (ELI) resources and activities around the Black Hills.
“The SDPB Early Learning Initiative is an increased investment by the network to support caregivers from preschool to parents at home,” Larry Rohrer, SDPB’s Director of Media Content, said. “With this generous gift from the foundation, and particularly in this era of pandemic, BHACF funding is opening new ELI communication channels with locally-based professional staff and a new text communication platform with a broad range of information for parents of children from birth to age 8.”

BHACF awarded the remainder of the grant, $20,000, to Fork Real Community Café to support the café’s ongoing efforts to meet identified food security needs and help bridge gaps in the availability of nutritious meals in the Rapid City area.

“While homelessness is an issue, food insecurity is even larger,” Fork Real Founder and Executive Director Rhonda Pearcy said, adding that the café is the conduit that provides a dignified dining environment where all are welcome to eat, regardless of means.
The funds also will support volunteer recruitment and training so Fork Real can continue to serve Rapid City in a more efficient and focused manner.

“We are beyond grateful for the support of the Black Hills Area Community Foundation and its donors that make these grant opportunities possible,” Pearcy said. 
The Community Action Grant is considered BHACF’s “signature” grant available only to nonprofits that hold funds at the foundation. The purpose of the grant is to support an organization that employs innovative ideas, leverages community partnerships, and focuses on sustainable practices. BHACF Executive Director Liz Hamburg says the Community Action Grant award always receives vigorous discussion by the Board of Directors.

“There is so much good work happening in our nonprofit organizations,” Hamburg said. “This year, the Board has chosen to divide the Community Action Grant award to fund the work of two worthy recipients, impacting two different areas of need – feeding the hungry and access to learning opportunities.”

For more information on the Community Action Grant or the Black Hills Area Community Foundation and how it connects people who care to causes that matter, please contact Executive Director Liz Hamburg or Programs Manager Carrie Robley at (605) 718-0012.
Black Hills Area Community Foundation achieves our goal of "connecting people who care to causes that matter" through the generosity of donors - whether they are individuals, families, foundations or corporations - who want to join us in taking care of our beautiful Black Hills and the people who live here.
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Copyright © 2020 BH Area Community Foundation/Collective Impact BH, All rights reserved.


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