NAR Community Partnership Initiative Since its launch in 1998, Rohm and Haas has worked in conjunction with local community members to provide a special grant-making program called the Community Partnership Initiative. Through the CPI program, community leaders making up the Community Advisory Committees help identify the critical needs of the community, request proposals, evaluate grant applications, and ultimately make the grant award to the winning non-profit organization. This is typically the largest grant of its kind and up to $30,000. CPI makes a sustainable impact in the lives of people who reside near our facilities. These grants will soon reach approximately 80 organizations with $2.4 million dollars contributed. The sites are once again offering the CPI grant -- an opportunity for nonprofit organizations in our community to apply for a $30,000 award. Its focus seeks programs best able to impact our surrounding communities. A survey of the community identifies the pressing local need. Seven Rohm and Haas host communities in the United States now conduct the CPI program. Our goal is to help support the needs of the community. Through this partnership, we help improve the quality of life in the communities were we operate. PAST RECIPIENTS All Care Community Center: Louisville, KY - Non-school-hours programming in a positive, safe environment for youth in the Cane Run corridor, including the Shanks/Shagbark, Lake Dreamland, and Southern Farms neighborhoods. The mission statement for All Care says that it “will provide to the youth of the Cane Run area tools and programs to encourage and enhance self-sufficiency, personal responsibility, and service to self, others, community, and society. All Care programs will incorporate the key values of respect, kindness, and harmony.” This winning CPI grant application was made in partnership with the Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center. The late Joan Kroc, widow of the founder of McDonald’s, endowed The Salvation Army with funds to construct and operate a community center to banish poverty, to support families in their daily lives, and to reach out to the community as a whole. The Kroc Community Center had planned to open in 2010, but the project has been delayed by national economic conditions. Bridesburg Boys and Girls Club: Philadelphia, PA - FitTeen Program: Created a two-room Fitness Center that opened in 2009. Upon completion, the Center will be self sustaining and operate after school annually from October through May. All activities are supervised by trained staff. Three hundred teen members, age 13-18, will be recruited via flyers, ads in local papers and posting on the Club’s web page. Staff was trained to conduct the teen fitness program. Special fitness groups are organized to maintain increased levels of physical activity in such areas as roller hockey, basketball, flag football, team handball, aerobics, running or dancing. Results will be measured by tracking member attendance and progress. Mount NotreDameHigh School: Reading, OH – Big Sis/Little Sis Mentoring. The School has expanded its Big Sis program to include more students from Reading-area grade schools, developed programming for girls in grades 1 through 6 that focuses on diversity, literacy, self-esteem, fitness, and nutrition and provided creative and physical activities. As a result of the initiative, the total number of participants has increased by 28% and family participation in the Reading Community Schools has increased by 260%. Over the past 2 years, over 185 students and their families have been reached. Two programs were added: Reach for the Stars for sixth grade and a fitness program (Fitness Friendzy) for 4th and 5th graders. The School will use its Impact Award to launch a literacy-based reading program that encourages reading at home, with caregivers and peers, and helps children become lifelong readers by providing them with ready access to quality literature. Ijams Nature Center: Knoxville TN - Restoration of Mead’s Quarry: A former quarry has been transformed into a park and wildlife sanctuary. The Initiative’s grant was used to clean up the Quarry, construct trails, a parking lot and entrance, remove hazards, install signage and fencing, and restore the wildlife habitat. To support the massive project, the Center organized a series of volunteer work days. The park opened to the public in 2005.  Community Hope of Delaware, Community RecPlex: Newark, DE: Project addresses acute shortage of athletic facilities for youth recreation programs in our target community. The grant covers finishing a baseball field for league play by Spring, 2009 and installing a resilient floor in the gymnasium to have it ready for basketball league play by January, 2009. The RecPlex will be used by over 1,600 children each year, who participate in the baseball and basketball leagues. It will be self sustaining with ongoing maintenance costs covered by income from the Marketplace, a non-profit store.
Bristol Riverside Theater: Bristol, PA/Burlington, NJ - What You Will Youth Program: Launch the “What You Will” Program which will reach over 200 teens aged 14 – 19 in Bristol Borough, lower Bristol Township, and City of Burlington and Burlington Township. Implement a 12 week long Creative Writing Project for high school students at schools and community centers that will include three residencies will be held with nationally recognized hip hop artists in September, October and December. The work will culminate in a “Poetry Slam” Competition that will be judged and prizes awarded to the top three winners. Through participation in the project, teens will gain interest in writing and performance, and expand their experiences and knowledge of literature. Assemblies and additional activities in schools and community settings will reach an additional 4,600 youth. Results will be measured by tracking the number of teens participating in Poetry Slam; media coverage of Program; survey results from all participants and cultural partners; exit surveys of audience members; continued interest and commitment of teens in BRT’s future programs; evaluations and documentation along with a final report of the findings will be completed in June 2009. Musicopia: Adventures in Great Music: Spring House, PA: Increase musical opportunities for students in Upper Dublin and Wissahickon School Districts by providing a comprehensive and hands-on series of programs including residencies, assemblies, workshops and a community concert that brings students from both schools together with Musicopia’s musicians. Interactive assemblies will reach 2,600 students and teachers at elementary schools in both districts. 85 students in the Sandy Run Honors Orchestra will participate in three two-hour String Workshops and six workshops will be offered at each high school for Advanced Chamber Music students. 1,600 Wissahickon Middle and High School Band members will participate in a three day Band Workshop with the Chestnut Brass Company. A community concert that will bring students from both school districts together with Musicopia’s musicians. See the organizations that won Grant Awards in 2007 |
