The Evanston Community Foundation has announced the recipients of its root2fruit capacity-building grants for 2019. They are The Actors Gymnasium, Puerta Abierta Preschool and Reba Place Development Corporation. Each Evanston organization will receive grants of $10,000, with renewed funding possible in 2020
and 2021.
These grantees join six organizations who are continuing in the root2fruit program: Art Encounter, Childcare Network of Evanston and Hip Circle Empowerment Center for a second year, and Evanston Work Ethic, the Institute for Therapy through the Arts and Reba Early Learning Center for their final year. All nine organizations participate in a learning cohort designed to help them build their long-term sustainability and impact.
This year’s new grantees exemplify ECF’s commitment to supporting the breadth and depth of Evanston’s nonprofit resources. The Actors Gymnasium works to expand human potential through the vital forms of circus arts. Puerta Abierta Preschool is a Spanish immersion early childhood program. Reba Place Development Corporation’s mission is to develop safe, decent and affordable housing that demonstrates how the diverse racial and cultural groups in Evanston can thrive together.
Additionally, five organizations who were previously root2fruit grantees were selected for one-year alumni grants to support specific capacity-building projects: Center for Independent Futures ($5,000), Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse ($5,000), Farmworkers & Landscapers Advocacy Program ($4,000), The Lilac Tree ($3,200) and Open Communities ($5,000).
For more information on the root2fruit program, visit www.evanstonforever.org or contact Vice President for Programs Marybeth Schroeder at schroeder@evanstonforever.org or 847-492-0990.