Stories

BGCF365: Our Impact

June 5, 2023Impact Stories

THE FINALS! 2022-23 Grantmaking Cycle Results

BGCF365 members met at Base249 for The Finals, our annual grantmaking meeting, on April 20. We heard project pitches from three Lexington nonprofits supporting Fayette County youth and voted on how to award $25,000 in total grants:

FIRST PLACE $15,000 GRANT WINNER: OPERATION MAKING A CHANGE

Operation Making A Change (OMAC) offers a 12-week violence prevention/intervention program for Fayette County Public School students in grades 3-12. In addition to violence prevention (with an emphasis on gun violence), the program addresses other critical issues such as substance abuse and mental health and reinforces positive behaviors and decision-making.

SECOND PLACE $7,500 GRANT WINNER: AFRICAN AMERICAN BALLET TROUPE

The African American Ballet Troupe provides free ballet classes to traditionally underserved youth, including children of diverse races and those experiencing financial hardship, to increase the diversity of the Lexington ballet community. Students benefit from the regular physical activity, and experience positive changes to their confidence levels and mental health by connecting with a community of dancers and performing in dance productions.

THIRD PLACE $2,500 GRANT WINNER: SPECIALIZED ALTERNATIVES FOR FAMILIES AND YOUTH

Through SAFY of KY’s Older Youth Services Pathways to Success Skill Building Program, youth aging out of foster care (ages 18-21) receive monthly independent living skill building programming from a SAFY case manager. In addition to hands-on life skills, such as cooking, cleaning and financial planning, the youth will also receive trauma-informed mental health care.

2020 Grants: Arts + Culture

On January 21, 2021, BGCF365 met virtually to award five grants totaling $25,000 to Lexington nonprofits delivering creative arts programming in innovative ways during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

$10,000 Grant: Central Music Academy
$7,500 Grant: Allegro Dance Project
$2,500 Grants: Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning, Lexington Philharmonic, On the Move Art Studio

2019 Grants: Green Spaces + Public Places

On January 8, 2020, BGCF365 awarded five grants totaling $25,000 to nonprofits working on green spaces and public places in Fayette County.

North Limestone Community Development Corporation was awarded $10,000 to support the expansion of the Night Market, a monthly pop-up street art and craft fair.
LexArts received $7,500 to beautify the Booker Street side of the Black and Williams building with a community mural.
The Lexington Public Library Foundation received $2,500 to create an enclosed outdoor playspace on the back porch of the Northside Branch Library, free and open to everyone in our community.
LFUCG Greenspace Trust received $2,500 for the Dantzler Court project to establish a replicable model for a community-driven process to enhance access and activity in the 800+ underutilized neighborhood green spaces owned by the City of Lexington.
Seedleaf received $2,500 to erect self-guided education stations with signage, seating and a bike rack at the Seedleaf community farm, an educational growing space that highlights the possibilities of small-scale urban agriculture for sustainable local food production in an economically and culturally diverse community.

2018 Grants: Education

In 2018, BGCF365 awarded five grants totaling $25,000 to nonprofits focused on education in Fayette County.

One Parent Scholar House received $10,000 for its One Parent Scholar House School Preparedness for Children project, to instill enthusiasm for learning and ensure that each child in the Child Development Center has books, art supplies, Creative Curriculum educational materials necessary for kindergarten readiness.
The Lexington Public Library Foundation received $5,000 for the Destination Kindergarten project, to prepare children for academic success by delivering early education services throughout Fayette County with this new early literacy initiative.
Partnership for Successful Schools received $5,000 for the One to One: Practicing Reading with Students project. One to One recruits and trains volunteers to become literacy coaches and mentors in support of struggling readers throughout their elementary school years.
Living Arts and Science Center received $2,500 for the Science Explorers: Expanding Opportunities for Students and Families program, to strengthen and expand the Science Explorers after-school program for low-income and minority students in grades 3 – 5 by increasing participation of students and their families in family programs, and piloting a summer camp for Science Explorers students.
Midway University received $2,500 for the PATH (Providing Academic Transitions to Higher Education) Mentoring Program. The PATH mentoring Program was created to facilitate the pathway to higher education by inspiring leadership skills by fostering school and community involvement. This academic year-long program motivates and prepares female minority students to obtain a post-secondary degree.

2017 Grants: Healthy Neighborhoods

In 2017, BGCF365 awarded five grants totaling $25,000 to nonprofits focused on creating healthy neighborhoods across Fayette County.

Natalie’s Sisters received $10,000 for its Healthy Food for the Sexually Exploited program. Grant funding helped support the purchase of healthy meals and snacks for sexually exploited women who visited its Drop-In Center.
Common Good Community Development Corporation received $7,500 for its Nourishing North Lexington program. Funding helped support healthy food options, nutrition education, and formal recreational activities for participants in Common Good’s after school program.
God’s Pantry Food Bank received $2,500 to support the free food pantry at Leestown Middle School.
Kentucky CancerLink received $2,500 to conduct cancer screenings for uninsured/underserved Fayette County residents and facilitate the American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking classes.
Radio Eye received $2,500 to support health and disability programming, as well as fitness shows broadcast by Radio Eye for the benefit of Fayette county residents who cannot comfortably hold print material because of blindness, visual or physical disability, or learning difference.