Outdoor Adventure Club | East Side Elementary

Get ready for some outdoor excitement! We're thrilled to announce our August grant has been awarded to East Side Elementary's Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC). This amazing club is giving 5th graders the chance to explore nature, build confidence, and create lasting memories.

With this grant, OAC will be able to take their young adventurers on three unforgettable trips:

• Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center: A peaceful escape into nature's beauty.

• Raccoon Mountain Caverns: An underground adventure filled with wonder and awe.

• YMCA Camp Ocoee: A thrilling experience of canoeing and outdoor skills.

These trips will be completely free for all participants thanks to our $1,100 grant, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to connect with nature and learn valuable life skills. We can't wait to see the impact this grant will have on these young explorers!

Summer Art Camp | The Seed Theate

Surely you know about The Seed Theatre. Their mission is to support marginalized communities (particularly LGBTQ+, BIPOC and their families) by providing resources, education, support and community while celebrating differences through arts and culture.

Enter Summer Art Camp, led by the acclaimed art educator Brouquelle Long. Designed to spark creativity in Chattanooga’s youth, campers aged 6-18 explored painting, sculpture, and more through engaging workshops and collaborative projects, all within a supportive and inclusive environment.

The camp featured three dynamic 3-day sessions (yeah, 9 sessions total) tailored to different age groups: 6-10, 11-13, and 14-18. Each class was taught by Brouquelle, whose six years of experience and numerous awards make her a standout in the art education field.

Our $3,000 grant offered 24 scholarships to ensure that financially marginalized children can participate at no cost, with the remaining spots available to paying participants.

Shouldn’t everyone have access to art education? It offers them a chance to express themselves, boost their confidence, and develop vital skills—all while having fun. By making the arts accessible, future generations of artists and community leaders can spring to life.

DuPont Elementary School Care Closet | Melody Hoffma

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.

No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town! | Sleep in Heavenly Peac

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.

Toy Lending Library | Chattanooga Public 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

Chattanooga Diaper Hub | Sheryl Fletcher

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! Donate to the Chattanooga Diaper Hub and be part of something awesome! You’ll need to go through the Net Resource Foundation, the fiscal sponsor, until CDH gets its nonprofit status.

Woodmore Matters | Woodmore PTA

Have you ever heard of Woodmore Elementary School? It's a little school with a big heart right here in Brainerd. It's 98% black and working class and bursting with life. This isn't your average school—it's a "little engine that could," filled with amazing teachers and dedicated leadership.

But here's the deal: Woodmore's been overcrowded and under-resourced for way too long. Their faculty lounge is anything but loungy; the stage is overflowing with supplies, and basic comforts like a decent bathroom fan are missing. This isn't fair to the incredible educators who dedicate their days to these bright young minds. Enter

The $3,000 UNFoundation grant to the newly formed Woodmore PTA is aimed at supporting leaders as they recruit parents and ultimately serve students. Here’s where the money will go:

• (More) Cozy Faculty Lounge: Imagine a comfy couch, calming lamps, and a fresh coat of paint – a haven for teachers to recharge and refocus. ️

• Organized Stage Space: We'll clear the clutter with metal shelving units, freeing up the stage for its true purpose – inspiring performances and presentations! Possible a tune up for the piano, too.

• Learning Environment Boost: Two new tables and chairs will create an enrichment area for even more learning magic!

• Seed Money for the new PTA: After all, inclusion is everything. This will allow them to recruit members that can decide what else the funds should go toward.

Together, let's show Woodmore Elementary the love and support they deserve!

Child and Family Enrichment | Chattanooga Room in the Inn

We proudly announce our $3,000 October grant to Chattanooga Room in the Inn (CRITI), a vital organization providing temporary shelter and support services to women and children experiencing homelessness. Our grant will directly impact the lives of shelter residents by supporting them through education, health, and well-being initiatives. How, exactly? We’ll tell ya.

• Therapeutic Activities: Art supplies, sensory and mindfulness toys, as well as workbooks $515

• Local Adventures: Creative Discovery Museum, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Rock City $500

• Tutoring Supplies $245

• Outside Talent: yoga instructors, ceramists, dance instructors $500

• Extracurricular activities: sports, dance, gymnastics, and spring, fall, and summer camps. $1,240

CRITI invests in the family as a whole. More healthy, confident, self-sufficient families in Chattanooga benefit local schools and workplaces and hopefully inspire families to spend more time together healing. As CRITI families in transition begin to engage in these programs, results should follow quickly.

Healing from trauma takes a village. We’re proud to support CRITI and families experiencing homelessness here in Chattanooga.