天美传媒

 

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� Three 天美传媒 students鈥擪arsyn Tucker, Lila Williams and Sadie Smith鈥攚on a competitive grant from the Community Foundation of West Kentucky for local nonprofit organizations this semester.

These grant applications were done in collaboration with local organizations chosen by the students for the Community Foundation鈥檚 annual Philanthropy 360 microgrant. Each organization will receive $1,000 from the foundation to implement their proposed projects in the upcoming year. 

The grant proposals were written as a part of Dr. Elise Kieffer鈥檚 grant writing Nonprofit Leadership Studies (NLS) 360 class. For the class, students researched and then reached out to local nonprofit organizations to write the grant on the organization鈥檚 behalf. This process required thorough understanding of the organization, their importance and their impact on west Kentucky. 

For this project, the Community Foundation created a special category for the Murray State students. Two students were selected for this category; however the third student won the community category for their grant. The community categories are far broader, as they include numerous organizations across west Kentucky.

Tucker (sophomore NLS major of Murray, Kentucky) won the grant for the Murray Rockets, Murray鈥檚 team for the Kentucky Special Olympics. The stated mission of Kentucky Special Olympics is to provide year-round training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in a variety of Olympic-like sports. Through the Kentucky Special Olympics, local partners and the support of local volunteers, the Murray Rockets are able to offer various sporting events and a community for the individuals in their program. Tucker is one such volunteer. First connected with the program through her high school鈥檚 chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America, Tucker fell in love with the local team and the organization as a whole. She was ecstatic to be able to write a grant on their behalf.

鈥淭he grant was written to help fund the 'Healthy Athletes Initiative,' which helps to improve the health and wellbeing of SO [Special Olympic] athletes,鈥� said Tucker. 鈥淭he initiative offers a variety of helpful programs. The program that the grant addresses is called 'Healthy Promotion,' which focuses on nutrition and preventative healthcare. The grant was specifically allocated to the nutrition section of this program, with the intention of holding a class or event to educate both athletes and caregivers. The grant will likely fund the event supplies, location and speaker.鈥�

Williams (junior public relations major of Kirksey, Kentucky) won grant funding for the Hope Center. Focused on the community of Mayfield, Kentucky, the Hope Center is a life-affirming pregnancy and resource center that seeks to help individuals through the light of Christ. Their mission is to empower, support and offer compassionate care to individuals and families facing unplanned pregnancies, financial hardship and personal challenges. The program that Williams was awarded funding for is called 鈥淟ittle Hands, Tiny Toes.鈥�

鈥淭he goal of this project is to provide expecting mothers, financially disadvantaged families or new parents with the help needed to care for their children after birth,鈥� said Williams. 鈥溾�楲ittle Hands, Tiny Toes鈥� is a program focused on easing the burden for families in need by providing essential baby supplies like diapers, wipes, car seats, baby cribs and more. Beyond these basic needs, the program also combats food insecurity, ensuring families have access to nutritious meals. The 鈥楲ittle Hands, Tiny Toes鈥� program is specifically designed to support expecting mothers, new parents and low-income families facing financial hardships. By offering this support, 鈥楲ittle Hand, Tiny Toes鈥� helps alleviate financial strain and provides parents with the peace of mind they deserve.鈥�

Smith (senior studio art major of Cadiz, Kentucky) won the grant for the National Quilt Museum in Paducah. First opening its doors in Paducah in 1991, the National Quilt Museum has attracted an audience from around the world, receiving its national designation from the United States Congress in 2008. With more than 250 exhibitions, 1 million visitors and 90,000 students over the last 30 years, the National Quilt Museum has become a pillar of arts and culture in west Kentucky and a home for the art of thousands of contemporary quilters. The program Smith won funding for is the Quilt Museum鈥檚 Fall Break Camp, which aims to bring the renowned Gee鈥檚 Bend Quilters from Alabama to Paducah to teach a new generation of quilters.

鈥淭he Fall Break Camp by the National Quilt Museum, in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club in Paducah, aims to connect underprivileged youth with the educational resources to learn quilting, while also connecting them with the rich heritage of the Gee鈥檚 Bend,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淭his program will not only inspire young artists to build skills and express their creativity, but will progress the city of Paducah as a whole by fostering inspiration in the next generation.鈥�

When asked for comment, all the students involved in this program wished to express their gratitude to the Community Foundation of West Kentucky for the opportunity to be a part of this process.

The NLS 360 grant writing class is offered as an elective in the Nonprofit Leadership Studies undergraduate major at 天美传媒. The NLS program has grown significantly in recent times and has become one of three undergraduate nonprofit programs in the United States accredited by the National Academic Centers Council. This accreditation is given to colleges that show dedication to research, instruction and experience in the profit or third sector, and that foster engagement between students and the sector through teaching, community engagement and experiential learning.