Examples of Summertime Kids grants

Reaching children and youth for Summertime fun and learning.

Objective: To provide nonprofit organizations, churches, or neighborhood associations funds so they may offer recreational and enrichment activities for children who otherwise would not have special summer opportunities. Programs funded through Summertime Kids generally serve children in Cumberland County, NC, who are from low-income families, live in remote areas, have disabilities, belong to a special population, or have been neglected or abused.

We award grants for activities and projects that serve the target population and are not covered by other funding sources. Guidelines for Summertime Kids grants follow:

• Applying for a Summertime Kids project does not have an impact on any other grant request submitted to Cumberland Community Foundation.
• Requests should be for safe, rewarding activities for children and youth to be offered between June 1 and August 31 in Cumberland County, NC.
• A Project Budget must accompany the application, listing grant expenses not to exceed $2,000. You must be specific about how grant dollars would be used. Modest requests that have a big impact are encouraged.
• Programs with total budgets exceeding $5,000 will have low priority.
• Project funds must be used during the stated time period to provide activities for children who otherwise would not have such opportunities. Applicants are required to show how they will ensure that funds are targeted for this particular population. (Previous applicants have used enrollment in the school free lunch program, referrals from social service agencies, census tract demographic information, and other clearly identified criteria to show who the grant funds will benefit.)
• Applicants are encouraged to be innovative: create a summer camp experience in an under-served community; initiate a new educational opportunity; visit someplace special in North Carolina; or expand summer program plans to serve additional children who wouldn't be able to participate without Summertime Kids support. Show us how the project will challenge children's abilities, or utilize their imaginations or ingenuity.
• Applicants will be notified as soon as possible whether or not funding for their request is approved.

Cumberland Community Foundation supported fourteen exceptional programs in 2009.

• Autism Society of Cumberland County - Camp Sunshine Summer Developmental Day Program: Six-week program for autistic students aged 3-21 with all levels of functioning. The camp offers a continuum of educational, social, art, recreation and life skill opportunities with emphasis on behavior management.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Cumberland County - Campers in the full day program will have activities in the areas of education and career development, character and leadership development, health and fitness, recreation and the arts.  Club members will learn socially appropriate behaviors and become positive role models.
• Cape Fear Studios- Ashton Wood Kids Club Summer Art Program: Provide children who have been going through a difficult time with their families the opportunity to express themselves through art. They will learn techniques for creating art projects, learn about subject matter, and receive a take home art kit to continue creating projects after camp ends.
• Cedar Creek Learning Center - Bridging the Gap: Summer program for students in eastern Cumberland County grades K-5 to provide educational activities to extend school acquired skills and continue character education using guest speakers. Computer instruction included.
• Clark Park Nature Center - Summer Nature Camp: Camp sessions for children aged 8-12 years that teaches outdoor skills such as camping, social and community living, and providing knowledge of interrelationships between humans and nature in the park environment.
• Communities United for Youth Development - Tutoring and Reading Program: Program provides cultural, educational, social and behavioral guidance for community youth including summer reading program and step team.
• Cumberland County Sheriff Department Resource Officer Fund - Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Camp: Week-long camp for youth aged 10 - 13 with long term suspensions and behavior problems. Focus is placed on teambuilding skills, responding to peer pressure, conflict resolution, setting goals, empathy and the truth about gangs and violence.
• Ellington-White Project - The Young Artists Studio Summer Program: In collaboration with the Fayetteville State University Art Education Department and the Fayetteville Art Guild, this camp is designed to provide visual arts exposure and healthy lifestyle activities to young people living in underserved communities, group homes, and home schooled populations.  The program incorporates visual arts and crafts, creative writing, social development games and intergenerational mentoring.
• Fayetteville Flyers Youth Track Club - FayettevilleSummer Track: Summer track program for children aged 5-18 with limited opportunities to participate in recreational sports.
• Fayetteville Urban Ministry - Find-A-Friend Program Incentive Project: Incentive program of new and fun experiences to encourage and reward positive behavior changes in participants aged 6-19.
• First Baptist Church Outreach Fund - Adventure Zone: Camp for youth in grades K-6 providing reading, writing, field trips and recreational activities. Activities enhance reading and reading comprehension, writing skills, physical health awareness, self-esteem and character.
• Great Oak Youth Development Centers - Summer Entrepreneurs Camp: Designed to actively engage males in hands-on-educational, cultural and recreational activities, field trips and guest speakers related to leadership and entrepreneurship.  Activities are designed to inspire, motivate, and stimulate creativity and effective problem solving.  Campers will participate in a community service project and create a business plan.
• Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex - Summer Kids Excellent Adventure: History Speaks! The camp engages children in life-enriching activities that teach about the past and its influence on the present.  They will learn about the various ways people have communicated throughout history and realize the connection between their lives and those who lived before them.  Campers will also learn about history museums and the purposes they serve in society.
• St. Ann Neighborhood Youth Center - St. Ann Summer Fun: Day camp provides academic and recreational activities for children in grades K-8 and teen volunteers from downtown neighborhoods.

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