On April 12, 2012, the W.O.W. members attending the spring business meeting voted to award this year’s W.O.W. grants to two different educational projects: to Blackford County Schools for training in the Comprehensive Intervention Model and for a Career Carnival for all fifth and sixth grade girls.
Comprehensive Intervention Model Training
A W.O.W. grant of $2,500 will fund the training and travel costs for two master teachers/literacy coaches to attend a summer workshop at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock where Dr. Linda Dorn, national authority on the Comprehensive Literacy Model, leads the Center for Literacy. The two literacy coaches will learn how to implement various types of research-based reading and writing interventions in their own schools. They will also learn how to share that new information and skill with fellow teachers.
Career Carnival
The Guidance Department at Montpelier School was awarded a 2012 W.O.W. grant of $680 to assist with the funding of a Career Carnival for all Montpelier and Northside Elementary girls in grades five and six. The students will learn about careers in math and science beginning with a keynote speaker. They will then divide into small groups that rotate among different stations, each led by a local woman in a math or science career who will speak to the students and provide them with an opportunity to participate in a hands-on activity related to her specific career.
Previous Winning Grant Proposals
Silver Lining
Community and Family Services is using a W.O.W. grant of $2.500 to support an incentive store called Silver Lining. The store helps families who earn coupons by participating in programs that better the health of the family. These coupons are earned by keeping appointments, attending educational sessions, and meeting other program requirements. Families redeem the coupons at the store for clothing and supplies for infants and children. The grant award is being used to purchase inventory, advertising, and other Silver Lining incentive store needs. The store opened on December 11, 2010, and is open one Saturday each month.
Sample of Character Counts program materials funded by W.O.W. grant to Montpelier School Guidance Department at March 2011 W.O.W. business meeting.Character Counts Program
The Montpelier School Guidance Department asked for $750 to support a Character Counts program. This program focuses on character education in the areas of responsibility, caring, trustworthiness, citizenship, respect, and fairness. Students participate in weekly lessons and other activities that teach these character traits to every Montpelier student. The funds provide copies of age-appropriate books that support each lesson.
Local volunteer loads fresh cabbage and melon in car at the Second Harvest Tailgate event in August at the Blackford County Fairgrounds in August.Tailgate Program
The Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc., received a W.O.W. grant of $325 to provide food to low-income residents in Blackford County through its Tailgate Program. This program supplements the work of Blackford County’s two local food pantries by providing some food products through a monthly distribution at the Blackford County Fairgrounds on the second Friday of each month. During 2010, Second Harvest Food Bank provided 154,420 pounds of fresh produce, dairy products, and dry food products to an average of 1,134 people at each monthly stop. According to the 2007 census update, 1,204 residents of Blackford County are living in poverty. Another 2,019 are working but are not earning enough to make ends meet.