Grants That Make a Difference
Every month, "Grants that Make a Difference" highlights grants given to Washington, DC area organizations that have helped make a difference in people's lives. "Grants That Make a Difference" profiles these important community success stories.
March 1, 2003
Grant amount: $80,000
Who got the grant:
Emmaus Services for the Aging
5 Thomas Circle, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202/745-1200
Fax: 202/745-1246
E-mail: emmaus@emmausservices.org
Web site: http://www.emmausservices.org/
Who gave the grant:
Public Welfare Foundation
1200 U Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202/965-1800
Fax: 202/265-8851
E-mail: reviewcommittee@publicwelfare.org
Web site: http://www.publicwelfare.org/
Purpose of the grant:
General support ($30,000) and capital support ($50,000) to complete the renovation of the Arthur S. Flemming Center, three buildings in the Shaw neighborhood, to serve as its home and a center for seniors living in the area.
Community impact:
Emmaus Services for the Aging is purchasing and rehabilitating buildings at 1422-26 9th Street, NW, in order to better serve elderly men and women living in the Shaw, Logan Circle, and Thomas Circle neighborhoods of Washington, DC. The complex will be called the Arthur S. Flemming Center, named for Emmaus’ founder, a nationally-recognized champion of the rights of the elderly. It will house the Emmaus offices, a new day center for seniors and other nonprofit organizations working on issues of peace, social justice and direct service to the poor.
The Shaw neighborhood of DC has a very large population of seniors who live in eight major subsidized buildings and a vast number of scattered sites. Many of these seniors live very isolated lives, cut off from much of the support that they need. For the past 23 years, Emmaus Services for the Aging has been building bridges between these seniors and the world around them.
Much of the work done by Emmaus staff and volunteers is done in the homes or apartments of the seniors. Its mission is to keep people living in their own homes, independently, as long as possible. The Arthur S. Flemming Center will allow all of its programs to expand, and also give Emmaus the chance to offer programs for the seniors on site during the day, so they can get out of their homes and interact. It will offer daily activities such as art, music and exercise, while giving them ways to increase their circle of friends.
Mission:
Emmaus Services for the Aging:
- Helps over 500 elderly men and women in the Shaw neighborhood of northwest Washington, DC each year.
- Coordinates over 300 volunteers who provide seniors with services to keep them living independently.
- Provides a variety of services, including phone calls for reassurance, regular visits, escorts to medical appointments, help with cleaning and home repairs, and assistance in finding housing.
- Delivers free groceries to 252 very low-income elderly people each month.
- Connects elderly people to government and private assistance, including Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare/Medicaid, Low Income Housing Credit, Washington Area Fuel Fund and Low-Income Phone Service.
"Grants that Make a Difference" is a rotating
feature profiling grants awarded to 501(c)3 nonprofit
organizations in the Metropolitan Washington,
DC area ONLY (the grantmaker doesn't necessarily
have to be local). The selection of grants for
"Grants That Make a Difference" is based on criteria
such as programmatic interests, geographic focus,
and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation
of the region's nonprofit sector.
If you'd like to see a grant awarded to your NPO
featured here, e-mail a detailed description of
the grant (following the format below), to dclibrary@foundationcenter.org,
with "Grants Submission" in the subject line.
We welcome press releases in addition to, or as
a substitute for the description.
Here is what you need to include:
- Name of your funded program
- The amount of the grant (indicate if multi-year)
- Who received the grant - Your organization's name, contact person's name (if applicable), address, telephone and Web site (if applicable).
- Who gave the grant - Name of the grantmaker
- Community impact: A brief (250 words maximum) explanation of how this program is making a difference in the community.
- Your organization's mission and how it relates to this funded project.
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