August 2026 Grant Winner

Access to Play Initiative

Strike Force FC

Soccer, or football around the world, can bring people together through play. All you need is a ball. And a few other things if you want to play well.

Huge congrats to Strike Force FC, one of our August 2026 grant recipients! They’re using their $1,500 award to put more Chattanooga kids on the field through the Access to Play Initiative: training gear for one of their new teams and a Player Access Fund so no kid gets turned away over cost.

Strike Force FC started when two Chattanooga dads decided competitive club soccer had gotten too expensive. They began with two players. In less than a year, they’ve grown to twenty kids, with U7 and U8 teams on the field and U6 and U9 on the way.

The math is the point. Every coach and board member volunteers, which keeps the average player cost around $945 a year, compared to roughly $3,000 at many traditional competitive clubs. Our grant helps fund the equipment, uniform assistance, and Player Access Fund that let them keep growing without passing those costs on to families.

Talent, effort, and passion should decide who gets to play, not income. Chattanooga’s more awesome when every kid has a spot on the team.

August 2025 Grant Winner

Food Forest at the East Lake Neighborhood Association Community Center

A coalition of parents, teachers, students, and neighbors is transforming unused outdoor space at the East Lake Neighborhood Association Community Center into something powerful: a thriving food forest rooted in education, equity, and ecological care.

This community-led project brings together Lane Lake Montessori School, Nature Kin Farm and Forest School, the East Lake Neighborhood Association, an after-school tutoring program, and local residents who already use the site as a shared gathering place. Together, they are creating a living classroom and free food resource that will serve the neighborhood for years to come.

The Food Forest will provide:

• Free, fresh fruit for the surrounding community

• An outdoor learning space for students of all ages

• Habitat for native pollinators and wildlife

• Long-term soil health and environmental remediation

Beyond food, this project grows justice. The East Lake neighborhood has a long history of disinvestment due to redlining, resulting in lower tree canopy and environmental inequities that persist today. This food forest is a small but meaningful step toward restoring access to green space, education, and nourishment in a historically underserved community.

By expanding local wildlife corridors, reducing runoff and heat, sequestering carbon, and creating a beautiful place to gather, the Food Forest at East Lake makes Chattanooga greener, healthier, and more connected—one tree, one lesson, and one shared harvest at a time.

July 2024 Grant Winner

Get ready to queer cheer! The Black Rainbow Movement has been awarded our July grant for a Name Change Clinic. Our $3,000 will support them as they walk alongside Black, queer individuals to create a more inclusive Chattanooga.

With this grant, they'll be able to expand the Name Change Clinic, helping even more transgender people live authentically and confidently. Dropping a dead name and owning your chosen name costs money, and our grant will fund those fees. It's not just a name-changer; it’s a game-changer!

Alongside their amazing partners, Homeserve USA, the Chattanooga Trans Liberation Collective, and Legal Aid of East Tennessee, they are working tirelessly to make this happen in Fall of 2024.

Together, we're building a brighter future for Black, queer people. Let's celebrate them and keep the momentum going!

May 2024 Grant Winner

What is the Chattanooga Free Store? It is a mutual aid organization located at 1701 Dodson Avenue, Suite C. The storefront is where anyone can access things like clothing, food, sexual health items, harm reduction supplies, and more, all for free and without having to show any form of ID. In order to access these same items elsewhere, you need money or an ID.

This local organization is a vital lifeline for community members in need. By expanding access to essential items, The Chattanooga Free Store is making a significant impact on the lives of those facing hardship.

With this grant, the Free Store will be able to increase its stock of essential items, ensuring that community members have consistent access to these necessities. By removing barriers to basic needs, the Free Store enables individuals and families to focus on other aspects of their lives, such as finding employment or pursuing education.

We commend The Chattanooga Free Store for their dedication to serving the community and congratulate them on this well-deserved $3,000 grant.

April 2024 Grant Winner

We are excited to announce that the UNFoundation has awarded a $1,000 grant to DuPont Elementary School!

Melody Hoffman, the school counselor, will use the grant to replenish the school’s Care Closet, which provides essential clothing and hygiene items to students in need. By addressing these basic needs, DuPont Elementary is creating a more equitable learning environment where all students can thrive.

DuPont Elementary is a Title I school serving a predominantly low-income population. The Care Closet is a vital resource for students who may not have access to essential items. With this grant, the school will be able to restock its supply of clothing, ensuring that every student has the clothing they need to feel confident and ready to learn.

We commend Melody Hoffman and the DuPont Elementary community for their dedication to supporting students’ overall well-being. This grant is a testament to their hard work and commitment to creating a brighter future for their students. Rock on, counselors and social workers. Y’all rule the school.

April 2024 Grant Winner

We are thrilled to announce that Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), has been awarded it’s third grant from the UNFoundation in the amount of $2,000!

SHP is on a mission to ensure that no child sleeps on the floor in our community. Through volunteer-driven efforts, they build and deliver beds to children in need, transforming lives and strengthening families.

With this grant, SHP will expand its reach, providing more children with the essential comfort and dignity of a good night’s sleep. This investment will directly impact the lives of countless children in Chattanooga, fostering healthier, happier, and more productive futures.

We are proud to support SHP's incredible work and look forward to seeing the positive impact this grant will have on the community.

March 2024 Grant Winner

Chattanooga Public Library’s Toy Lending Library.

Imagine a library where kids don't just borrow books, they borrow their next playtime adventure! That's the vision behind Chattanooga Public Library’s Toy Lending Library. You've likely seen firsthand the joy of learning through play, and access to educational toys can be a challenge. Like the popular Tool Library (funded by yours truly) for grown-ups, this initiative will provide a vibrant collection of age-appropriate toys, games, and puzzles for children from 0 to 8.

This project is about making Chattanooga even more awesome by fostering a love of learning in our future leaders! The Toy Lending Library will:

• Level the Playing Field: High-quality educational toys can be expensive. This program will ensure all families, regardless of income, have access to these valuable tools for playful learning.

• Spark Curiosity: From building blocks to pretend play, these toys will ignite a passion for learning and exploration, laying the foundation for future academic success.

• Strengthen Families: The library is a welcoming community space. This program will be a fantastic resource for families to discover new toys, create lasting memories, and bond through playful experiences.

Our grant of $3,000 will purchase a diverse collection of educational toys, games, and puzzles. This initial investment will allow us to pilot the program, ensuring Chattanooga's littlest learners have access to the tools they need to play, explore, and grow! Our library is so cool. #wefundcoolideas

February 2024 Grant Winner

The Chattanooga Diaper Hub (CDH)

Sometimes, all it takes is one retired nurse and a cool idea to support a community need. It's a good thing we have Sheryl Fletcher.

Do you believe basic hygiene shouldn't be a luxury?

The Chattanooga Diaper Hub (CDH), a community project of First Baptist Church and Metropolitan Ministries, provides diapers (because, well, babies!), feminine hygiene products, and other essentials to people who need support. Many Chattanooga families struggle to afford these necessities.

Our grant of $3,000 will fuel the Diaper Hub mission by providing:

• Diapers (of all shapes and sizes): $1,950 (Because everyone deserves a clean bottom!)

• Hygiene Products: $500 (Think feminine hygiene, toiletries, and incontinence supplies)

• Website Development: $300 (A website that rocks!)

• Office Supplies & National Network Membership: $250 (Gotta keep things running smoothly!)

Let's make Chattanooga a place where everyone has access to basic necessities!