In November, the Community Foundation awarded the first grants from its new Louisville Excellence in Action Program (LEAP), to recognize outstanding programs in Louisville Metro that have a proven track record of success, but need additional funding to leap forward with improved or expanded services.

The 2009 LEAP Grants, totaling $250,000, recognized 12 outstanding educational support programs for 950 at-risk children in grades K-5 that occur during “out of school time,” either before school, after school, summertime and/or weekends. Representatives of the 12 programs that received 2009 LEAP Grants are shown in the photo above with Sonny Altman, Vice Chair of the Board (far left) and Mimi Zinniel, Chair of the Board Grants Committee (far right).

The LEAP Grants are funded by distributions from the Community Foundation’s unrestricted endowment funds, as well as contributions from Community Foundation fund holders who are interested in supporting successful educational programs in the Louisville area.

The Community Foundation awarded the 2009 LEAP grants to the following organizations:

Tadpole Grants

Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Center/East Seals of Louisville Cardinal Hill seeks to expand a six-week summer camp for 24 children ages 4-10 who live with speech and language disorders and to avoid any regression during the summer months. Amount awarded:  $9,400	Neighborhood House Neighborhood House offers a summer educational camp for 100 students in grades K-5.  Activities focus on literacy, math, science and social studies to avoid the summer “brain dip.” Amount awarded: $25,000
Catholic Charities of Louisville Catholic Charities will provide a four-week summer camp for 27 immigrant and refugee children in grades K-5 to receive language instruction to better prepare them for school. Amount awarded: $11,350	Portland Promise Center This grant will support a year-round after-school program for 65 children ages 5-10.  All activities focus on academic achievement, especially reading and math. Amount awarded: $25,000
The de Paul School This grant will enable 15 financially needy students to attend a six-week summer camp focusing on language arts, math and reading for students in grades K-5 with learning disabilities. Amount awarded: $17,500	Society of St. Vincent de Paul The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will provide a summer education program for 25 homeless children who are housed at its family residential shelter. Amount awarded: $8,400
Lighthouse Promise This grant will allow Lighthouse Promise, located in the Newburg neighborhood, to continue their after-school educational and arts program for 40 children in grades K-5. Amount awarded: $18,000	University of Louisville Foundation In partnership with Jefferson Co. Public Schools, UofL will provide “Engineering is Elementary” to 150 elementary students to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Amount awarded: $20,000
Louisville Urban League This grant will support a year-round “Rising 5th Graders” educational intervention program to help 60 students in 4th and 5th grade be better prepared to enter middle school. Amount awarded: $25,000	Volunteers of America of Kentucky VOA will extend the hours of its after-school “study buddies” program for 140 homeless children in grades K-5 to address students’ tutoring and educational needs in a caring environment. Amount awarded: $25,000

Bullfrog Grants