tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:/pt/projects?page=16 2025-01-03T13:56:45Z tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/309353 2025-01-02T00:00:00Z 2025-01-03T13:56:45Z The second of two Awesome Ottawa awards for December goes to Toni van Eeden to support a series of sensory-immersive live music shows using interconnected wireless headphones. “Inside Voice,” explains Toni, “will be a series of sensory-immersive live music shows that mean to move us into more sustainable ways of relating to ourselves and the natural world. Taking the tools of the Silent Disco – interconnected wireless headphones – and applying mycelial thinking to it, these shows will be designed with nervous system regulation and aftercare in mind.” “Each pair of headphones has its own volume control,” Toni continues, “and allows for people to be standing or sitting many feet apart from each other and from the performer without sacrificing the quality of the show. This means we can essentially perform anywhere without worrying about bylaw-enforced noise restrictions or choosing venues with proper sound equipment. Being more creative with our choice of space also means being able to be more immuno-friendly, sensory friendly, and contextual to the content of the show.” Besides themself – under the moniker [PARTYGIRL] (https://partygirlrising.com/) – the project will also include Bleu Pâle (DJ moniker of visual and tattoo artist Coblou), Ardea (ambient dub techno), and Taymaz Valley (poet and beatmaker). “Inside Voice shows,” says Toni, “will be about inviting audiences to become introspective and self-reflective, and to experience something that will transform us and grow our capacity to strive for sustainable togetherness.” Toni is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work deals mainly with themes of grief, the hidden self, and the sensory body. They have worked in the local arts scene for over a decade, with a focus on education and consultation in entrepreneurship and event organizing. Toni van Eeden Inside Voice Canada Ottawa https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/ottawa tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/313353 2025-01-02T00:00:00Z 2025-01-03T01:30:12Z The first of two Awesome Ottawa awards for December goes to Amanda Palmer and the Mechanicsville Community Association to support community gatherings for mental health. “Mechanicsville is a small neighbourhood of about 2,500 people,” explains Amanda, “and in the last six months we have had several neighbours die by suicide.” “We know this because it occurred in a public way, or because they had previously been an active volunteer in the community.” “As a result,” says Amanda, “many neighbours have been wondering what can be done in the future, and what they may have been able to do, should they have recognized the signs, or known what to do with the signs they did recognize.” “What we have identified,” she continues, “is both the need to increase community connections and relationships, and to create more access points to knowledge and resources around mental health and suicide in our community.” “We intend to hold a ‘Neighbour Night: Take a Mental Health Break!’ gathering on January 23 to do just that. We plan to offer a community meal to enable people to show up, and to get to know one another. During dinner, we will have a community conversation to allow for deeper connection and to better understand needs and opportunities around mental health. The second hour will include guest speakers who will share information about what can be done in these contexts, as well as share what resources are available.” “Additionally,” says Amanda, “we plan to have a community grief tree as a ritual to allow people to make a communal expression of grief for those who are no longer with us, or for those who are struggling.” The [Mechanicsville Community Association] (https://www.mechanicsville.ca/) is a group of volunteers interested in promoting and protecting the interests of Mechanicsville residents. Mechanicsville Community Association Community Gatherings to Enhance Mental Health https://www.mechanicsville.ca/ Canada Ottawa https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/ottawa tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/310796 2024-12-31T00:00:00Z 2025-01-08T06:32:54Z We are excited that our December 2024 grant was awarded to Bee University NYC (Bee-U), a community-driven nonprofit based in Staten Island that inspires environmental stewardship and fosters the next generation of green leaders through urban beekeeping. With a focus on education, sustainability, and environmental justice, Bee-U offers unique programs like the Urban Beekeeping Fellowship and Hive Experiences. Bee-U connects people from across New York City to the wonders of pollinators while empowering underrepresented groups in the green economy. From free events to innovative partnerships, Bee University NYC is creating a buzz for a more sustainable future. Follow them on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/beeuniversitynyc/) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/beeuniversitynyc/) to learn more. Do you want to get involved? * Apply for the Urban Beekeeping Fellowship: The Urban Beekeeping Fellowship is a transformative paid program for youth ages 16-24 designed to empower underrepresented groups in the green economy. Fellows learn the art and science of beekeeping while exploring environmental justice and sustainability issues in their communities. The Fellowship application is released in March and you can [apply directly on their website](https://www.beeuniversitynyc.org/urban-beekeeping-fellowship). * Sign up for a Hive Experience: Bee University NYC Hive Experiences are unique, hands-on workshops designed to connect people of all ages (8 and older) with the fascinating world of honeybees. These one-time experiences provide an educational and interactive opportunity to learn about beekeeping, honeybees' essential role in our ecosystem, and the delicious diversity of honey. Participants can gear up with protective suits and step into a beekeeping area to observe live honey bees in action. Hive experiences are available from May - September and can be [booked here starting in March](https://www.beeuniversitynyc.org/plan-a-visit). * Donate: Your donation to Bee University NYC directly supports their mission to empower the next generation of green leaders and promote environmental stewardship through urban beekeeping. With your help, Bee-U can continue to provide innovative programming, maintain their hives and pollinator gardens, and create meaningful opportunities for underserved communities. [You can donate here](https://www.beeuniversitynyc.org/donate). Andre Ware Bee University NYC http://beeuniversitynyc.org United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/311522 2024-12-31T00:00:00Z 2025-02-22T17:31:59Z This project will be a collaboration between neighbourhood children and a professional mural artist. We plan to have a series of workshops to reconnect children with local green spaces, habitats and water systems. Children will make connections between the importance of caring for our local habitats, reducing the amount of waste they produce, and ensuring that garbage and plastics do not enter into our water systems and soil. The children and the mural artist will build on their experiences with the natural environment to collaborate on a vibrant and beautiful mural for the Dentonia Park recreation building with text in predominant neighbourhood languages (i.e. English, Bengali, and Chinese). We live in a diverse and vibrant neighbourhood where Dentonia Park is one of the only outdoor spaces for many children. Yet, the park is at times so littered with garbage that children cannot play freely. The intent of the mural will be to inspire and engage community members to take care of our green spaces and ecosystems. Jessica Hein Dentonia Park Community Mural Canada Toronto https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/toronto tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/315427 2024-12-31T00:00:00Z 2025-01-05T23:05:16Z ParaCliffHangers is the largest paraclimbing network in the United States, serving as a national leader in adaptive climbing with over 23 chapters dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through accessible climbing lifestyle. Our project, "Adaptive Rock Climbing—A Community for Everyone," aims to further our commitment to inclusivity by providing all chapters with adaptive-specific gear, ensuring that our community is accessible to climbers of all abilities. In 2025, we are focused on securing funding for essential adaptive equipment, specifically the Easy Seat harness and T-Bar Ascender. These adaptive climbing tools are crucial for supporting individuals with various severe mobility needs, making climbing accessible. Equipping each chapter at $800 per set represents a significant investment directly impacting our ability to provide a truly inclusive experience. We aim to achieve 100% accessibility across all ParaCliffHangers chapters by the end of 2025. By funding this project, you are helping us ensure that everyone in our community can access the tools and support they need to climb. **What our grantee is saying:** "Receiving this award from the Awesome Foundation is an incredible honor and a reflection of our shared commitment to inclusion, equity, and community. At ParaCliffHangers, our mission is to build an inclusive climbing community for people with disabilities, led by people with disabilities. This micro-grant will directly support that mission by funding adaptive climbing gear, which is essential for creating accessible spaces where paraclimbers can thrive. We're grateful for the recognition and support as we continue breaking barriers and fostering impact through climbing." Denny Kowska Adaptive Rock Climbing - A Community for Everyone https://www.paracliffhangers.org/ Worldwide Disability https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/disability tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/312883 2024-12-30T00:00:00Z 2024-12-31T20:51:14Z This December, we're supporting ‘69-’96: A Closer Look at a House in Common, a house tour in Newport at 15 Dresser St, focusing on the three totally exceptional, incredibly normal families who lived there at different times from 1969-1996. The project asks people to think about a Newport history that spans the opening of the Newport Bridge to the X Games at Fort Adams, as lived in a classic Victorian. The middle class families whose lives were held at 15 Dresser St worked at Sears and for the Navy, ran an antique store, blasted the Smashing Pumpkins and grew weed in the attic. All of these histories exist in Newport though they are never illuminated by the glossy spreads in the tourist traps. The producers will use fund to help produce related digital assets; the event will be free and open to the public. Rebecca Noon '69-'96: A Closer Look at a House in Common https://www.centeraquidneck.com/69-96-a-closer-look-at-a-house-in-common United States Rhode Island https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/rhodeisland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/305567 2024-12-26T00:00:00Z 2025-10-30T19:52:52Z Willowood Community Youth Group is a resident run afternoon program for kids 5 and up. Our mission is to provide a positive place for self expression through creative art, crafts, painting, games, needle craft such as crocheting, knitting, sewing,baking and home work help and more.Some children are home alone after school until their parents arrives home from work. We are a low income Federal Housing neighborhood. Our children are from all different ethnic back grounds such as Arabic, African American, Asian snd Latino.Most of the younger kids are outside with no adult supervision. We want to have a positive impact on young people, improving self esteem, self confidence, improve better mental health and social emotional skills, and reducing risky behaviors that have been seen with teens in the neighborhood such as drinking and smoking out in the open. Jillian Brewer Willowood Community Youth Group United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/315574 2024-12-25T00:00:00Z 2025-03-13T16:05:09Z I am thrilled to propose bringing the award-winning documentary How Saba Kept Singing to the State College community, paired with an exclusive talk and performance by Avi Wisnia. This event will provide a unique opportunity to experience a powerful story of resilience, music, and love while fostering conversations about history, faith, and family. How Saba Kept Singing tells the remarkable story of Cantor, Holocaust Survivor, and Military Veteran David “Saba” Wisnia, who, in his later years, traveled with his grandson and accompanist, Avi Wisnia, sharing his story of survival through music. For much of his life, David believed he survived Auschwitz largely by singing for his Nazi captors, which granted him a fragile status as a “privileged prisoner.” However, during a family trip back to Poland for a final performance, Avi began asking deeper questions. Together, they uncovered a surprising truth—someone else had played a significant role in David’s survival. This revelation added a new dimension to David’s story, one that illuminates the power of love, sacrifice, and resilience even in the darkest of times. Directed by Sara Taksler (Tickling Giants) and Executive Produced by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, the documentary has been met with critical acclaim. It premiered at the HotDocs Toronto International Documentary Festival in 2022, aired nationally on PBS in 2023, and earned the Audience Award at the Rutgers Jewish Film Festival. It is currently nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy Award. David Wisnia’s story has also been featured in The New York Times and Buzzfeed. My goal is to bring this impactful film and Avi Wisnia’s insightful talk to State College to engage the community in meaningful dialogue. This event will connect audiences to an extraordinary story of survival and music, sparking conversations about history, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection. Lisa R. Marzka How Saba Kept Singing Viewing and Discussion https://aviwisnia.com/2023/05/how-to-watch-how-saba-kept-singing/ United States State College, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/statecollege tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/316045 2024-12-25T00:00:00Z 2025-03-13T16:04:44Z Cranksgiving is an annual bicycle-driven food drive that blends cycling and community service. Originating in New York in 1999, Cranksgiving has expanded to over 100 locations nationwide. Our event in State College has grown tremendously since its start and will celebrate its 7th year next season! Every year, the local cycling community gathers during the Thanksgiving season to ride to local grocery stores and purchase items for the Centre County Youth Service Bureau. These donations directly support local teen shelters and families through their parenting programs. Over the past six years, Cranksgiving State College has raised more than $18,000 in groceries for CCYSB. Our Statistics, and archives of past years is at https://stats.cranksgivingstatecollege.com (photo attached) This year was our biggest yet, raising nearly $5,000 in donations, and we're already gearing up to make next year even better. We're considering expanding to a two-day event to drive even greater participation and donations. We’re excited about the possibility of having the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile join us for an extra boost of fun and visibility, though we may not secure an appearance this year. ** this event is typically end of October, early November. Matthew Cox State College's 7th Annual Cranksgiving https://cranksgivingstatecollege.com United States State College, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/statecollege tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/312640 2024-12-23T00:00:00Z 2024-12-23T18:03:43Z Հազարավոր երեխաներ կորցրել են իրենց տանը տոնածառ դնողին, իրենց տոնական սեղանի ծախսն անողին, իրենց գլխի տակ նվեր դնող Ձմեռ Պապուն և հաճախ էլ դիմավորում են Նոր տարին հիվանդանոցում։ «Նվիրիր հույս» ծրագրի շրջանակներում ամեն տարի ուրախացնում ենք հազարավոր երեխաների՝ Արցախից մազապուրծ եղած, սոցիալապես անապահով ընտանիքների և մանկատներում բնակվող: Արալեզներս՝ սկաուտներս և մեր պատասխանատուները, հասցրել ենք ու փորձում ենք ամանորյա փոքրիկ հրաշք հասցնել՝ Նվիրելով Հույս, որ Ձմեռ Պապը կա ու վաղը լավ է լինելու։ Ծրագրի ընթացքում պատրաստում ենք հատուկ նվերներ՝ ըստ դիմում հայտերի հերթականության, ապա մոտեցնում մարզկենտրոններ, ուր միջոցառում ենք կազմակերպում Ձմեռ պապի գլխավորությամբ և բաժանում. նույնիսկ Արցախում: Ծրագիրն անփոփում ենք տարեվերջին՝ դեկտեմբերի 31-ին, հիվանդանոցներ այցելելով, ուր նույնպես Ձմեռ պապի հետ բաժանում ենք նվերներ և հույս նվիրում, որ Ձմեռ պապը չի մոռացել և վաղը լավ է լինելու: Առաջին հիվանդանոցն է լինելու Պրոֆեսոր Ռ․ Հ․ Յոլյանի Անվան Արյունաբանական Կենտրոնը, ուր այս տարի երեխաներին նվիրեցինք մեր հեղինակած «Սուպեր Հերոսը» գիրքը, որը երեխաներին ուղղորդելու է ողջ հիվանդության հաղթահարման ճանապարին՝ նրանց նախապես պատրաստելով իրենց սպասվող հավանական բուժմանը։ Նվիրենք հույս, միասին։ Այս տարի «Նվիրիր հույս»-ն իրականացնելու համար խնդրում ենք օգնել մեր Ձմեռ պապուն կամ ինքներդ լինեք Ձմեռ պապ՝ ֆինանսապես աջակցելով ծրագրին։ Նոնա Հարությունյան Նվիրիր հույս https://aralez.org/projects/gifthope/ Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/309355 2024-12-19T00:00:00Z 2025-01-22T21:42:41Z Join the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce – Greater San Antonio (PACC-GSA) on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Kain-Na Filipino Cuisine for National Lumpia Day 2025—a vibrant celebration of Filipino culture, food, and community impact. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat lumpia buffet, cooking competitions, raffles, and more while supporting a great cause. A portion of event proceeds will benefit the PACC-GSA Disaster Relief Fund, providing critical aid to disaster-affected communities in the Philippines and locally. Your support helps us honor Filipino heritage, empower local businesses, and extend hope to those in need. 📞 Contact: 956-343-6360 📧 Email: pacc.ctr.texas@gmail.com Gene Carangal National Lumpia Day 2025 United States San Antonio, TX https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/sanantonio tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/310475 2024-12-17T00:00:00Z 2024-12-18T02:29:50Z Started in Brooklyn, NY in 2017, Queer Soup Night is a queer-led national organization with affiliates in cities across the US. Queer Soup Night events showcase the culinary talent of local queer chefs in queer-owned or allied spaces, where sliding scale donations are gathered to raise money for a local LGBTQ+ non-profit or advocacy organization. The goal of these events is to foster community, celebrate queer culinary talent, and gather resources to protect the most marginalized and deserving of support in the LGBTQ+ community. On January 19th, 2025, we will be hosting Chicago's first local affiliate Queer Soup Night Event in over five years, tentatively at Dorothy Downstairs - a sapphic / lesbian bar in West Town that is a central pillar of Chicago's LGBTQ+ night life, arts, and cultural scene. Proceeds from sliding scale donations charged for soup will go directly to Brave Space Alliance: a Black and trans-led LGBTQ+ Center on the South Side of Chicago that creates and provides affirming and culturally competent services for the entire LGBTQ+ community of Chicago. The timing of this event is planned for the night before Donald Trump's inauguration. With his administration committed enacting an incredibly anti-LGBTQ+ agenda, it's critical for organizations like the Brave Space Alliance to be fully-funded and prepared to continue providing resources and support to the most vulnerable in our community, specifically trans and non-binary Chicagoans and transgender youth. While we have the mentorship of the national Queer Soup Night organizers, every chapter of QSN is locally-led and 100% volunteer-powered, with local organizers planning events and finding chefs, venues, and donated goods without any sort of formal support or budget. As of now, I am the only person leading organizing efforts for Queer Soup Night Chicago, with a handful of volunteers supporting me. Mariel Brown-Fallon Queer Soup Night Chicago https://www.queersoupnight.com/ United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/314060 2024-12-16T00:00:00Z 2025-11-18T16:19:29Z In 2019, I began writing a feature film about college basketball, toxic masculinity, and compulsory heterosexuality. Today, I’m working towards making this film a reality! My team and I are preparing to create a proof of concept film that introduces the main characters, their conflict and their world. It is a short, six page script that opens on a basketball practice and then goes into a conversation in the woods between the main characters. This scene explores the characters, two men, fighting their feelings for each other with every excuse possible despite them both clearly having feelings for each other. The film takes place in 2011 and is set against the pressure filled, heteronormative world of college basketball, the feature film story explores what it means to come into yourself as an adult and become the type of person you want to see in the world. We’re hoping to use this short film to raise funds for the feature and get this story into the world! Louise Bartolotta Nicky and Nick https://seedandspark.com/fund/nicky-and-nick#story United States Poughkeepsie, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/poughkeepsie tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/294407 2024-12-16T00:00:00Z 2025-03-17T19:52:03Z Karavansarai is a series of free communal chai pop-ups. It’s an effort to reclaim public space, build community and political solidarity, and create beauty where we live. We hope to foster a sense of entitlement to the built environment by reappropriating space within it for these events, and we want people to develop a lexicon for engaging and critiquing it. These events began in North Carolina two years ago. Aside from the political solidarity, it provided a third space where people didn't have to pay to be welcomed, and they could genuinely socialize with their neighbors. Ahmed Amer Karavansarai https://www.instagram.com/karavansarai_chai/ United States Pittsburgh, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/pittsburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/296034 2024-12-15T00:00:00Z 2025-01-11T15:45:04Z In its 6th year, Shop-with-a-Cop pairs youth with law enforcement the week before Christmas to do holiday shopping or the kids and their families. Youth selected are recommended by teachers, counselors and probation. This program serves youth through all Clay County. Scott Kostohryz Shop-with-a-Cop http://www.moorheadpal.org United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/315196 2024-12-12T00:00:00Z 2024-12-17T09:35:02Z At Warm Paws NSW, we admire the dedication of The Awesome Foundation’s high-caliber volunteers. Your mission to support overlooked or new ideas requiring a financial boost to get off the ground is inspiring, and we are grateful for the opportunity to present our project again! Warm Paws is dedicated to ensuring that regional pounds across New South Wales are equipped with the essential resources to care for their animals. Our mission is to streamline the distribution of donated items—such as food, bedding, and medical supplies—by creating a centralized storage system. This system will enable us to stockpile 12 months' worth of donations and distribute them monthly based on the unique needs of each pound. This December is an especially critical time for supporting animal welfare, as Christmas often brings with it the unfortunate reality of puppy dumping and overwhelmed pounds. Looking back at the Awesome Foundation Sydney’s recent winners, it’s clear the grants have been a catalyst for diverse and impactful projects, such as the “Kangaroo & Joey Rehabilitation Enclosure” in February 2024. With no animal-related project receiving the grant since, we believe now is the perfect moment to shine a spotlight on animal welfare, especially when the need is greatest. We envision this project as a critical step toward making Sydney and its surrounding areas more awesome by ensuring no animal in regional care goes without the essentials. This initiative not only promotes animal welfare but also strengthens the bond between Sydney's community and its regional counterparts. Warm Paws exemplifies the Awesome Foundation's mission by directly addressing a grassroots problem with a solution that’s scalable and community-driven. We believe this grant will help us inspire Inclusivity: By ensuring that underfunded regional pounds receive equal access to resources, we foster equity across communities which will have a lasting impact. Warm Paws NSW - Paawwesome will make the city of Sydney more awesome by connecting Sydney donors to regional pounds. Warm Paws fosters a spirit of inclusivity and generosity. Our project ensures that every dollar, donation, and effort is put to use where it’s needed most, making Sydney and its surrounding areas more compassionate and connected. Together, we can create a future where every animal in care has access to the essentials they need to thrive. This is our vision for a more awesome greater Sydney! Kathryn Hacio Warm Paws NSW - Being Pawesome!! https://www.facebook.com/warmpawsnsw/ Australia Sydney https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/sydney tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/306112 2024-12-11T00:00:00Z 2024-12-16T19:14:34Z I am the new Transition Coordinator for The Lincoln Center, a Special Education program in Wyandotte, Michigan. We service students with Autism and Cognitive Impairments ages 5-26. We are in the process of developing more Transition opportunities for our adult students. We are starting cooking classes and have opened a Transition Room for students to work on Adult-Living Skills. Skills students will learn include kitchen safety, cooking measurement, meal prep, cooking, money management, laundry, cleaning, community safety, independent skills, proper hygiene, and school-based enterprises. We plan to start three enterprises this year, and more in the future. These enterprises include popcorn sales, t-shirt sales, and gift bag sales. Students will create the products, sell them, and manage the money from sales. Learning these skills will help our students better prepare for adult life after they are finished with school. Our goal is to help students build independence with their Independent Living Skills. Jennifer Spicer Special Education Transition Room United States Ann Arbor, MI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/ann-arbor tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/308481 2024-12-11T00:00:00Z 2024-12-12T05:50:10Z Let’s open up Space! Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the hackerspace Noisebridge, our ongoing mission to explore strange (yet economically priced) new ascent technologies; to seek out new parts and new partnerships; to boldly go where no non-government-nor-massively-industrially-funded-group has gone before. Space is awesome but why should Elon Musk get all the fun? Let’s create a space program open to everyone. Traditionally, space exploration has been limited to governments and to the wealthy, and that is a loss to us all. Access should be as wide as the human imagination and Space, itself. To end this inequity Spacebridge is stepping up to the challenge with the goal of bringing space to the masses! Started in the hallways of the famous hacker/makerspace, Noisebridge, Spacebridge is a people driven near space exploration program. Relying on the propensity of hydrogen filled balloons to reach the edge of space before returning to earth with a bang(!), we are sending payloads to that edge, with plans to take samples, photos and other types of data, then and returning them safe to Earth. In short exploring the edge of our world and the beginning of the infinite. In our first launch, we sent up a handcrafted Whale and Petunia to the upper stratosphere to both test our wings and “investigate the question of life, the universe, and everything.” While that payload was not recovered, we learned much. For instance, early telemetry readings strongly hint at the answer being 42. This is a cross-disciplinary, project-based, learning experience involving many disciplines: electronics, software, radio operation, textiles, bushwhacking, treasure hunting (note, downed weather balloons are considered salvage),art and more! Ellen C McBarnette 99 Red Balloons https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Spacebridge/NBRL-001:_Infinite_Improbability_Drive United States San Francisco, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/sf tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/310663 2024-12-11T00:00:00Z 2024-12-12T05:51:42Z Mindful Bubbles is a quirky little project designed to inject some joy and silliness into the everyday grind. Armed with bubble wands and a sign that boldly proclaims, "Adults Can Play Too," I set up shop in public spaces, inviting anyone who’s willing to stop and stare to make, chase, pop, or just watch bubbles float by. There’s no agenda—just bubbles, laughter, and zero productivity expectations. Think of it as a brief rebellion against the chaos of adulting, one bubble at a time. The whole thing started during the pandemic when I was in the depths of anxiety and needed something to calm my brain. After experimenting with different bubble solutions (yes, there’s more than one kind), I discovered that making bubbles was the ultimate stress buster. It turned into my own little mindfulness ritual, helping me stay present and forget about everything else for a while. When I shared this with friends, they were like, “Wait, this is actually awesome,” and I realized—I had to share it with everyone. Mindful Bubbles is about reminding people that life doesn’t always have to be serious. It’s easy to get caught up in stress and worries, but a bubble—or 50—can offer a quick escape into joy and wonder. By inviting people to play, pop, or just exist with the bubbles, we’re encouraging a moment of mindfulness wrapped in sheer fun. Because let’s face it—life’s a lot more fun when you’re chasing bubbles instead of deadlines. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll all reconnect with our inner child… even if that means getting a little wet in the process. AZUL Take back joy, one pop at a time! https://www.instagram.com/mindfulbubbles/ United States San Francisco, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/sf tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/307840 2024-12-10T00:00:00Z 2024-12-11T19:16:47Z Global Preservation Initiative (GPI) is leading a community-driven movement to confront plastic pollution and the devastating effects of commercial fishing on our ecosystems. Our mission began with hosting cleanup events to remove trash from our environment. While cleanup events are crucial, we recognize that they are only a temporary fix, the real solution lies in building a connection to nature to see it as worth protecting. Since our inaugural cleanup 33 months ago, Global Preservation Initiative has hosted 106 cleanup events that have resulted in the removal of 11,734 pounds of trash from our beaches, parks, and community spaces. This achievement has been made possible through the contribution from 1,792 community volunteers. To further build awareness, in November of 2022 we launched our Education Initiative. GPI’s Education Initiative proactively uses our first-hand experience removing trash from our environment to create high-quality environmental education that delves into the genesis and implications of plastic pollution and commercial fishing. Our innovative curriculum is tailored for ages pre-kindergarten through university and adult groups, utilizing pictures, videos, discussions, quizzes, storytelling, and games to effectively engage each learning style. Over the past 24 months, our Education Initiative has similarly flourished, delivering high-quality environmental education to 2,305 students through 98 engaging and informative events. Our commitment to the communities we serve is the inspiration behind our Lifetime Impact Report. This one-of-a-kind report simply and comprehensively showcases GPI's initiatives and finances since our inception. We aim to give our communities and funders a deep and straightforward understanding of our impact and finances. Our Lifetime Impact Report is available on the homepage of our website: www.GlobalPreservationInitiative.org, or by visiting this URL: https://shorturl.at/ZE5wb Aaron Magee Global Preservation Initiative http://www.globalpreservationinitiative.org United States Oahu, HI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/oahu tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/309319 2024-12-10T00:00:00Z 2024-12-10T17:44:54Z The project is a chess tournament at the library aimed at fostering community relationships. The event will be coordinated by Chess With Big Tray, known for engaging and inclusive chess initiatives. Participants of all ages and skill levels can compete, and prizes will include cash awards, tournament boards, and t-shirts. This initiative not only promotes strategic thinking and friendly competition but also serves as a community-building platform where people can connect and engage in a positive, shared activity. Trayvon Porter Chess Tournament http://www.chesswithbigtray.com United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/310649 2024-12-10T00:00:00Z 2024-12-11T19:16:14Z Laie Elementary School (LES) prioritizes the need for a Writing Continuum to support student learning throughout all subjects. According to our SBA results from 2023-2024 school year, some of the English & Language Arts writing targets that students struggled with or was measured below proficiency were: • Target 1: Narrative writing and revising brief texts • Target 6: Opinion writing and revising texts • Target 8: Writing language and vocabulary use • Target 9: Writing editing To improve in these areas and better support teachers in providing appropriate writing curriculum in the classroom, a National Board Certificated Resource Teacher will provide professional development training for LES faculty based on the award-winning program “The Writing Revolution” by Judith C. Hochman. On January 7, 2025, all 45 permanent teachers and paraprofessional educators (PPE) are required to attend the Castle-Kahuku Complex Planning and Collaboration Day, when the training will take place. To more fully immerse in and effectively learn the new writing program, the NBCRT highly recommended purchasing hard copies of the textbook, “The Writing Revolution 2.0: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades” by Hochman and Wexler. The goal for this project is for LES teachers and PPEs to become certified in The Writing Revolution Hochman Method and have the needed materials to fully integrate the program into their teaching curriculum for the rest of the school year. With this certification and textbook, our goal is to promote continued discussion and use of the writing program in (1) Weekly Team (Grade) Collaboration Meetings, (2) Bi-weekly Grade Leadership Coordinator and Extended Faculty Meetings, and (3) individual End-Of-Year Evaluations with the Leadership Team (Principal, VP, SSC, & CC). Should the writing program and materials prove to be successful, the Leadership Team is committed to continuing the writing program into the next school year. Courtney Fermantez Revolutionize Laʻie Elementary Writing Curriculum https://www.thewritingrevolution.org United States Oahu, HI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/oahu tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/312573 2024-12-10T00:00:00Z 2024-12-10T17:42:54Z We are excited to announce a free sewing program open to the public, with a special focus on multigenerational Lee-Harvard community members and friends. This program will feature 10 sessions, where participants will learn basic and intermediate sewing skills. All supplies, materials, and equipment will be provided at no cost. Participants will have the opportunity to create 5 to 8 articles of clothing, accessories, or household items, which they can take home for personal use. Three of the sessions will introduce the concept of “babywearing” and its benefits. Participants will sew “ring baby slings” to be donated to local birthing centers. This initiative is called the “Creative Babywearing Program.” Through this program, participants will engage in civic responsibility, addressing critical issues in our community. With high infant mortality rates in our area, babywearing is seen as a beneficial practice for both babies and caregivers. The birthing centers targeted by this program are in areas affected by systemic inequities. The average retail price for a baby sling is $69, making it unaffordable for many caregivers. By creating and donating 50 slings, participants will help bridge this gap. Over the six-month program, participants will: • Learn basic and intermediate sewing skills. • Understand the benefits of babywearing. • Engage in community solutions to local issues. By participating, individuals will strengthen neighborhoods and breed personal empowerment. Donating slings fosters trust, empathy, and human connections, creating a strong foundation for addressing community challenges together. Paula Coggins for Oh Sew Powerful, Inc. Creative Babywearing http://www.ohsewpowerful.org United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/313302 2024-12-10T00:00:00Z 2024-12-10T19:38:17Z Students in the San Lorenzo Valley School District learn to read simple rhythmic patterns which we then use as ostinato melodies to create our own music. The students work together in partnerships and small groups to learn and teach each other how to play the music we've created. The class gets to feel the satisfaction and success of playing in a large group together. They get to share their newly developed talents with their families through performance. Santa Cruz gets awesome budding musicians. The grant from the Santa Cruz Chapter of the Awesome Foundation will provide instruments, microphones, cables, loop pedals, and amplifiers to support this program. We love that this program develops creative analytical thinkers who are learning to work collaboratively. Nathan Gonzalez Ostinatos and Looping Music Education United States Santa Cruz, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/santacruz tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/303763 2024-12-10T00:00:00Z 2024-12-10T17:46:32Z A Promise to Care EAST Foundation was established by its for-profit partner, A Promise to Care EAST, which provides healthcare services through homecare and healthcare training. As part of our commitment to the local Women & Children's Crisis Center community, we’re excited to continue with our 2nd annual Christmas gifting and dinner event. Last year, with the support of crowdfunding, dedicated volunteers, and contributions from A Promise to Care EAST, we provided wrapped gifts and a traditional holiday dinner for all 100 residents. Since then, our partner company has also set up an STNA classroom on the center's campus, offering residents a convenient way to gain valuable workforce skills. Please help us continue supporting this community through these meaningful efforts. Toniqua Walker 2nd Annual Christmas Gifting & Dinner https://gofund.me/8518f722 United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/260722 2024-12-10T00:00:00Z 2024-12-11T02:00:16Z This is the burial cemetery for many of Cape Ann's first settlers, including Richard Tarr in 1731, and soldiers from the French and Indian war, the American Revolution, war of 1812 and Civil Wars, as well as Rockport's own Hannah Jumper in 1869. Unfortunately, this burial ground (across from Front Beach), while very visible to town folks and tourists, has many broken and sunken graves. In addition, many stones are covered with moss and lichen and have not been cleaned in decades. Rockport's DPW take care of mowing the grounds, but do not attend to the gravestones. As a Board member of the Sandy Bay Historical Society, I have been asked to chair a new seven member Committee that is tasked with the restoration of this important burial ground. Richard Fitzpatrick Old Fifth Burial Ground Restoration https://rockporthistory.org/ United States Rockport, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/rockport tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/301094 2024-12-09T00:00:00Z 2024-12-10T02:54:43Z On December 21, a group of volunteers from Austin Mutual Aid and Carol’s Kindness will fill a room at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center with toys so parents can "shop" for their kids for Christmas. We hope $1000 from the Austin Awesome Foundation will make the season a little brighter for even more families. Jennifer Jones, Austin Mutual Aid Christmas Joy for Kids United States Austin, TX https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/austin tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/304561 2024-12-09T00:00:00Z 2024-12-10T18:40:11Z Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers provides free Family Care Packages as part of our food insecurity and practical support services, giving young families in need access to donated food, baby nutrition, diapers, family hygiene supplies, and clothing. Our Nutrition and Resource Coordinator offers regular workshops and cooking classes to help pregnant and parenting youth develop skills for preparing budget-friendly, nutritious meals for their children. Originally developed as an emergency pandemic response, the Family Care Packages initiative began by supporting 50 families in need of essential supplies. Today, with rising living costs and increasing prices for food and diapers, demand has grown significantly. Currently, Rose of Sharon provides Family Care Packages to 145 youth-led families, reaching 507 vulnerable individuals (325 children and 145 young mothers) each month. Thanks to our dedicated community volunteers, Family Care Packages are distributed across York Region. We currently provide an average of 580 bags of food and essential supplies each month, with each family receiving 3-4 bags of items along with diapers, tailored to meet their unique needs. Karen Warner Rose of Sharon Family Care Packages http://www.roseofsharon.com Canada Newmarket https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/newmarket-ontario tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/296777 2024-12-08T00:00:00Z 2024-12-13T23:22:00Z The project aims to support the "Governador" Fire Brigade, located in the Governador Indigenous Land in Amarante do Maranhão, which is responsible for monitoring approximately 43 thousand hectares and 15 villages of the Gavião people, and for understanding how the use of remote sensing can improve prevention and response capacity in fighting forest fires on Indigenous lands. The project involves the international cooperation of Professor Dr. Polyanna Bispo from the University of Manchester and the national collaboration of Professor Dr. Maycon Melo, an anthropologist and professor at CEUMA University. The project will involve acquiring a computer and a satellite internet antenna, payment for one year of internet access, and financial assistance for a training workshop. The workshop aims to train indigenous members of the Brigade to monitor fire activity through remote sensing technologies, thus contributing to the region's prevention and fighting of forest fires. The primary beneficiaries are the indigenous peoples of the Governador Indigenous Land. The project seeks to increase the capacity of local communities to monitor and combat forest fires, contributing to the preservation of the Amazon, its biodiversity and the sustainable livelihoods of the local population. Celso Henrique Leite Silva Junior Fighting forest fires in Amazon Indigenous Lands Worldwide Conservation and Climate https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/conservationandclimate tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/307134 2024-12-04T00:00:00Z 2024-12-06T19:52:23Z The Glasgow Baseball Association (GBA) is a Glasgow-based baseball club, currently open to all adults, regardless of age, gender or experience. We are open to any adults interested in playing, learning and supporting baseball. Our coaches have also taken time to help and support emerging baseball clubs in Glasgow, like previous Awesome Glasgow Award Winners the Glasgow Sunflowers. As a club, we are passionate about growing baseball in Scotland, with our next project establishing a youth baseball program for the 2025 season. currently, there are very limited opportunities for individuals under the age of 16 to try baseball in Glasgow and Scotland as a whole – and no opportunity in the East end of Glasgow, where we play out of Tollcross Park. Over the last two years, we have had over 20 enquiries about a youth program and are looking for your help to develop a safe, inclusive and fun environment for youth aged 8-15 to learn to play baseball. Our main financial objective is to purchase youth safety equipment for this program to keep costs as low as possible for all participants. By providing the necessary equipment for safe participation we would be able to offer this program at as low as £1 per participant. Our goal is to provide a fun safe environment where youth of all backgrounds can learn to love our sport! Your support can make this possible. Rebecca Withers Youth Baseball United Kingdom Glasgow https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/glasgow tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/291073 2024-12-04T00:00:00Z 2025-01-30T11:51:13Z Hi! My name is Colleen and I’ve been a member here in Georgetown for 6 years! Both of my children currently atrend GMHS and Penn Brook. This specific project is about supporting, empowering, and inspiring women’s sports here in town! I had been the softball coach for a few years for GAA for my daughter while in town and help now with the varsity softball team. What I’ve learned over these years is that the softball field located at Penn Brook is in need of a lot of work. I know that Tracey had done things to help with the clay/dirt on the field but I’m looking to continue this project even more. First and foremost, the girls need a dugout to protect them from the hot sun especially in May and June. Fundraising has helped with uniform cost, dinners, and any team related activities that they need during the regular season. I have a bigger picture in mind for the future that would include not just dugouts for both sides but seating, covers for the mounds and home plate areas, better equipment to help with the keep up, and I would love to add in a scoreboard for these girls. Because Penn brook field is the home field for all ages in town (7-18yrs old) I feel as though they need better benches, covers, places to put their bats, dugouts, etc. When visiting other towns to play, we notice almost every team has most of these items that I’m requesting. If I had all the money on my own, I’d do it myself :) would love to figure out how to make this happen for our Royal girls who try so hard during their softball season. Colleen Thomson Georgetown Royals Softball Makeover - (Uniforms) https://georgetown.k12.ma.us/athletics/ United States Georgetown, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/georgetown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/291830 2024-12-04T00:00:00Z 2025-01-30T11:49:15Z As we know the town budget and the school budget were very dismal this year. However, the athletic department operates at a deficit yearly. We would use the funds to offset the fee of our annual subscription to HUDL. HUDL is a company that reviews, analyzes and provides data regarding our games within 24 hours. With this information our Coach is able to see the game again, review things that worked and things that didn't work. As a team we watch the film and analysis provided and make any necessary corrections. This is a huge tool that we use to learn from and allows us to remain competitive in the Cape Ann League. It also provides each player with personal stats of their performance along with video clips so we can see what each of us individually need to work on. GMHS Boys Basketball Team - Jack Duggan Captain Purchase Annual Subscription to HUDL United States Georgetown, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/georgetown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/307136 2024-11-30T00:00:00Z 2024-12-06T20:50:42Z To access more State supported social opportunities like education and economic empowerment, Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria are often encouraged to register with the State disability Commission in person or by utilising an online form. Women with Disabilities in armed conflict affected communities are in danger of being further disenfranchised from this social protection as most are not physically capable to make the trip to the Commission which is located at the Nation’s capital nor afford the cost for the travel as they’ve been made poor by loss of business from the conflicts their communities is recovering from; others have never had access to nor used the internet and are uneducated. Our project takes the registration to these communities in Southern Kaduna, a region in Northern Nigeria with over a decade of armed conflict from which most women were raped and maimed, further increasing women’s disability in this region. The Guardian Sisters Initiative (TGSI) goes to these hard to reach communities to document these rural women and girls with disabilities and register them with the State disability Commission for social opportunities like economic empowerment to support their socio-economic recovery. We are planning to expand the reach of the Document Us! Project by training selected rural women with disabilities in conflict affected communities on how to register for the disability social opportunities with the State disability Commission so they can teach and support other women with disabilities in their villages with the registration. **What our grantee is saying:** "The Awesome Disability grant is helping us bring socio-economic inclusion to the door step of conflict affected women and girls with disabilities, one village at a time." Hilda Bubmi Balogun Document Us! Worldwide Disability https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/disability tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/307492 2024-11-30T00:00:00Z 2024-12-26T20:46:48Z Ramadan is one of the holiest months for Muslims around the world. It is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Muslims engage in increased prayer, recitation of the Quran, and engage in acts of charity and kindness. The month of Ramadan concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a holiday marking the end of the fasting period, during which Muslims come together for special prayers, feasts, and giving of gifts. Due to ongoing anti-2SLGBTQIA+ prejudices in mainstream Muslim communities in the GTA (and beyond), hundreds of queer Muslims will need safe, affirming, inclusive, joyful space to celebrate Ramadan in community that welcomes both their Muslimness and their queerness (using ‘queer’ as an inclusive and expansive umbrella term for 2SLGBTQIA+ identities). In 2025, Ramadan will begin on March 1st, 2025 and end on March 31st, 2024. [The Queer Muslim Network](https://www.queermuslimnetwork.com/), a grassroots organization founded in 2020 and powered entirely by passionate volunteers who are full-time students or workers. is planning 3 distinct events to celebrate Ramadan with the 2SLGBTQIA+ Muslim community (and friends!) from the Greater Toronto Area. Layale Bazzi Queer Muslim Network Ramadan 2025 https://www.queermuslimnetwork.com/events Canada Toronto https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/toronto tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/302895 2024-11-30T00:00:00Z 2024-12-04T03:50:01Z November’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to community-based robotics team [Merge Robotics] (https://www.team2706.ca/) to support purple shovels – the team’s colour – for clearing snow from Kanata bus shelters. “This would be extremely beneficial to the community when there are snowstorms,” explains project manager Mélanie Taylor, “as bus stops are often the last areas that get plowed.” “People with mobility issues,” she continues, “have to climb over a snow mound to get to the bus. And considering the number of people who wear running shoes in the winter, this issue also affects more people than expected.” “By adding purple shovels to bus stops,” says Mélanie, “combined with generosity from local volunteers, we can greatly reduce the surrounding snow mounds. By reducing such barriers, we can help make bussing more feasible and accessible for our community.” [Merge Robotics] (https://www.team2706.ca/) is a team of 40 students that participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Joined by industry mentors, they build a robot from scratch, each year, in only eight weeks. Merge Robotics Purple Shovel Project Canada Ottawa https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/ottawa tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/304601 2024-11-30T00:00:00Z 2024-12-12T19:24:57Z Our latest grant has been awarded to Karatedo Honma Dojo, a traditional Japanese karate school in the East Village, and their new "Sassy Senior Self-Defense Workshops." Building on the success of a series of three self-defense workshops they ran for seniors in their area, they will be running four more workshops in 2025 at their dojo, providing their students with practical self-defense skills, a sense of empowerment and accomplishment, and a community centered around traditional Japanese karate and culture. _"Senior citizens, and Asian seniors in particular, are a vulnerable subset of New Yorkers. The Stop AAPI Hate Coalition reported in 2022 one out of four (26.2%) harassment cases against Asian American adults 60 and older were physical assault. Our grandparents, aunties and uncles deserve to feel safe! We teach self defense. In our general classes we often talk about and practice decisive action that allows us to make a safe escape, but senior citizens do not have the option to run away. Our aim for this project is to tailor a series of workshops specifically for seniors that allows them to build confidence, situational awareness and practical self-defense knowledge. Our hope is that they will use the knowledge and exercise to remain as independent and sassy as their advanced years allow."_ _"Sassy seniors are essential to every community! In Japanese culture we revere our elders. Developing these workshops feels strongly in line with our values and addresses a need within our larger community. Adapting our highly specialized martial arts skill set and using our sensitivity to the needs of seniors, we are going to empower them. Our elders hold deep reserves of knowledge, wisdom, patience and humor. Empowering them in their golden years makes life more awesome for everyone they know and touch!"_ * Follow them on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/honmadojo/) * Follow on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/KaratedoHonmaDojo/) Marisa Honma Sassy Senior Self-Defense Workshops http://www.honmadojo.org United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/304886 2024-11-28T00:00:00Z 2024-11-28T21:02:02Z Սյունիքի մարզի Սիսիան քաղաքում ընդամենը օրեր առաջ հիմնել եմ Bee's House Մեղրի և մեղվի ցուցասրահ, որի նպատակն է աշխուժացնել մշակութային կյանք, ակտիվացնել զբոսաշրջային հոսքը և առաջին ձեռքից ներկայացնել մեղրի ստացման գործընթացը զրոյից, և մեղվի կյանքի բոլոր փուլերը։ Այն իր տեսակով և ֆորմատով առաջինն է մարզում և կարծես թե ողջ հանրապետությունում։ ՕՍՄ-ին դիմելու նպատակս է դպրոցահասակների մոտ խթանել մշակույթի, մեղվապահության հանդեպ հետաքրքրությունը և մեղվի կարևորության մասին իրազեկվածության մակարդակի բարձրացումը, Ինչպես նաև զարգացնել ցուցասրահներ և թանգարաններ այցելելու մշակույթը։ Իմ նախագիծն է Սիսիան համայնքի 10 գյուղերից ( Սառնակունք, Ծղուկ, Անգեղակոթ, Շաղատ, Ախլաթյան, Վաղատին, Տոլորս, Նորավան, Ույծ, Դարբաս) 200 աշակերտի հնարավորություն տալ անվճար այցելելու իմ ցուցասրահ։ Արթուր Գրիգորյան Bee's House https://www.instagram.com/beeshouse_arm?igsh=MWN5aWlob3cwa3UwaQ== Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/305351 2024-11-27T00:00:00Z 2025-11-21T03:40:02Z Creating for Charity is a NSW based group of like-minded volunteers who create, sew, knit and crochet items to meet the needs of Charity and Community groups such as hospitals, community centres, aged care, schools and other organisations supporting vulnerable people in our Community. Our volunteer makers have voluminous fabric and yarn stashes and together we inspire ideas and create a sense of comradery and improved mental health for those wanting to make a difference and give back. Examples of created items range from newborn premmie garments; bright sheets & pillowcases for children in long-stay hospital; winter warmers and various items for those undergoing chemotherapy or in end-of-life care. The specific grant request for Project Back to School will allow us to purchase stationery and sanitary items not received via donations to add to environmentally friendly handmade library bags & sanitary pouches, plus provide funds for out-of-pocket delivery costs to Schools further away than our volunteer drivers can manage. The key Coordinator of Creating for Charity is located in Lake Macquarie at Speers Point, where all items are processed and quality checked before being sent out to requesting charities, hospitals, schools or community groups. Requests are supplied from stock-on-hand or published via a post on Creating for Charity’s Facebook site. We have a number of key times per year where items accumulate for bulk distribution: • World Prematurity Day-November each year: where newborn gowns, scent hearts, quilts, humidicrib belts, soft toys and beanies are distributed to various hospitals in the Premmie Day theme of Purple • Back to School–January: Handmade Library bags and sanitary pouches along with donated stationery items are distributed by the thousands to schools in low socio-economic areas • Easter themed donated items are sent to Hospitals or community centres for distribution children in need. We also support services in Northern Territory and PNG. Trisha Downes PROJECT BACK TO SCHOOL Australia Lake Mac https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/lakemac tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/305128 2024-11-27T00:00:00Z 2024-12-05T15:27:52Z Providence Student Union (PSU) will host their annual youth-led Know Your Rights (KYR) conference in March 2025. The KYR conference inspires young leaders to delve into civics and student rights, envision changes to school policy, learn from each other, and plug into local advocacy and organizing efforts. Awesome Foundation Rhode Island's support will help the PSU deveopl a more comprehensive conference in response to student feedback. Potential plans include conducting youth-led research and student surveys, increasing turnout, holding a forum to target decision makers, and developing a proposal to expand students’ rights under state law. The PSU will continue to provide opportunities for young leaders to creatively address issues that impact their lives, explore the intersections of art and activism, and find new opportunities. Merrill Schmidt Youth-Led Know Your Rights Conference http://pvdstudentunion.org United States Rhode Island https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/rhodeisland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/307091 2024-11-26T00:00:00Z 2024-11-27T15:38:00Z Our project is called Engaged Arts and Craftivisms (EAC), a free weekly public community initiative where arts and crafts become tools for social justice. Held at the public library and hosted by *Sit Around Chicago*—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Buddhist temples, communities, and practitioners in Chicago—EAC combines creative expression with mindful activism to empower and connect community members. EAC centers on the belief that art-making is a powerful form of activism. By engaging in crafts that reflect social issues, participants are not only restoring their own energies but also creating tangible symbols of resilience and solidarity. Each session offers a restorative space for activists to recharge and reconnect with each other, fostering relationships that can sustain their efforts for change. The goals of EAC are threefold: (1) to restore activists’ energy and deepen community ties through the therapeutic power of art; (2) to ignite meaningful change by transforming creative works into advocacy tools that raise awareness and inspire action; and (3) to serve as a living archive, witnessing and recording the justices and injustices surrounding us. Unique to EAC is a meditation practice rooted in Buddhist philosophy, emphasizing interconnection and the shared responsibility to alleviate suffering. This mindfulness component grounds participants, helping them approach activism with compassion, clarity, and resilience. At EAC, arts and crafts are more than hobbies; they are catalysts for community healing, action, and historical documentation. Together, participants create a visual and emotional record of the world they hope to change, using creative expression to advocate for a more just and compassionate society. Sabaha Lee Round Engaged Arts and Craftivisms https://www.sitaroundchicago.org/copy-of-sacsac United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/307831 2024-11-26T00:00:00Z 2024-11-27T15:37:08Z Since childhood, I have always loved the Wizard of Oz & all its iterations, along with other fantasy stories & fairy tales. Even so, I often wondered where are the people of color in these stories of munchkins, witches & other magical creatures. This piece, as well the rest of the kind of work Kessto Kreatures does, showcases a purposefully truly diverse company both on & off stage while also raising visibility for the different type of artists of color that exist & showing that we exist in our own unique powerful ways, because representation matters. How did he come to be hanging there in that corn field? This original adaptation of an OZ story follows the newly appointed “His Majesty the Scarecrow,” as he is tasked to save the citizens of Winkie country from an ever-increasing horde of crows. The narrative follows his journey back down the yellow brick road to discover his life before becoming a scarecrow & the lynching of an African American man that ended that life. Joined by his companions; the Wogglebug, the Sawhorse, the Patchwork girl & a perpetually puckish crow - his journey explores connections between Oz & the United States in the early 1900’s. Through its innovative use of puppetry, powerful storytelling, & culturally relevant music, The Scarecrow aims to captivate audiences, provoke thought, & inspire change. This production serves as a testament to the transformative power of imagination, history & the human spirit. My show The Scarecrow premiered at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club as a part of the puppetry festival this Nov 1st-3rd and will be a part of the Chicago International Puppetry Festival January 2025! Performances are January 24 at 7 pm, Saturday, January 25 at 5 pm, and Sunday, January 26 at 2 pm Anthony Michael Stokes The Scarecrow https://chicagopuppetfest.org/event/anthony-michael-stokes-ithe-scarecrow-i/ United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/291829 2024-11-21T00:00:00Z 2024-11-22T02:22:12Z I'd like to seed an ongoing effort I'm nicknaming the 'Raptor Refrigerator' to help Cape Ann Wildlife's efforts to help the raptor population here in Gloucester and Cape Ann. Jodi Swenson and Erin Gove (among other rehabilatators here in town) work tirelessly and with no pay to save hawkes, owls, eagles and other raptors - and feeding them is incredibly expensive. On top of the time these amazing women are spending they shouldn't also have to come up with the money to feed these incredible birds that are so criitcal to the welfare of our entire ecosystem. So, let's start a Raptor Refrigerator! This seed money would get this project started by purchasing a fridge full of raptor food (preparing for the winter ahead) and allow CAW to use the rest of their funds to help other needy wildlife while allowing Cape Ann residents to help fill the tummy's of these glorious birds that we all love so much. Once off the ground, the Raptor Refrigerator could be an ongoing part of CAW - maybe businesses could also kick in to help keep it funded (and the fridge full) on an ongoing basis. Meagan Fratiello Raptor Refrigerator United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/296550 2024-11-21T00:00:00Z 2024-11-22T02:20:07Z Last year our team put great effort into securing 400 Lobster traps in recognition of Gloucester’s 400th anniversary. While securing traps for building the tree has always been the biggest challenge every year we were able to utilize the special anniversary for Gloucester to make great strides in permanently securing enough traps to build the tree every year. In partnership with Brooks Trap and Riverdale Mill we were able to secure a donation of 2/3 of the value of the traps. The remaining 1/3 we are responsible to cover through our own fundraising. The grass roots effort by committed community volunteers to build the tree year after year is only outmatched my the hundreds of children who paint the buoys to decorate the tree each year. Art Haven continues to host buoy painting events year after year making the tree a community wide celebration for all ages. Lobster Trap Tree Crew (David Brooks) Investment in the trap tree to secure traps https://m.facebook.com/lobstertraptree/ United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/297942 2024-11-21T00:00:00Z 2025-01-27T20:39:22Z Sea Lab Science empowers students to become Ocean Protectionist Artists through a mobile, art-based science education program. Our innovative approach combines art, science, and activism, utilizing recycled materials and incorporating real-world experiences, such as field trips and community projects. This hands-on learning fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a strong sense of environmental responsibility. We serve Title I schools by bringing our mobile lab directly to socio-economically disadvantaged youth. Collaborating with universities, museums, and the Library of Congress, we provide unique opportunities such as internships, art showcases, and time capsule submissions, enabling students to make a meaningful impact. Feedback from our students highlights our success: 85% report a stronger sense of belonging and connection to their environment. We empower them by assigning various leadership roles in projects, such as leading community art show presentations, which builds their confidence and agency. Alexa Simeone Sea Lab: Voices for the Ocean http://www.sealabscience.com United States Miami, FL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/miami tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/301747 2024-11-21T00:00:00Z 2024-11-22T16:46:18Z epairTogether.org is a tech-driven initiative focused on refurbishing and redistributing technology to underserved communities. By collecting and revitalizing used tech devices, the organization ensures that individuals in need, including survivors of domestic violence, have access to essential technology tools. These resources empower them to stay connected, access critical services, apply for jobs, and support their education. RepairTogether.org strives to bridge the digital divide, promoting inclusivity and providing opportunities for individuals to rebuild their lives through technology. Heather Reid RepairTogether.org https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090371224314 Canada Kingston https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/kingston-on tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/302564 2024-11-21T00:00:00Z 2024-11-22T02:16:55Z Together Gloucester has officially launched our 2nd "Operation Keep Gloucester Warm". We are collecting winter gear to share with the community at a public distribution event on December 7th at Trinity Congregational Church on Middle Street. Several City agencies (City Hall, Gloucester Fire, Gloucester Police Community Impact Unit, Cape Ann Veterans' Center, City of Gloucester DPW) and businesses (SeniorCare, Gorton's, XP Power, Gloucester Elks, Starbucks) have graciously placed collection bins at their offices/businesses. Based on request from our local non-profit community partners already this fall, there is a great need for warm winter clothing for the populations they serve as well as the general public. Kristin Michel Operation Keep Gloucester Warm United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/305524 2024-11-19T00:00:00Z 2024-11-28T01:03:49Z Eat This Page is an innovative recipe product designed to simplify cooking and make it accessible to everyone. Each sheet of parchment paper comes printed with an illustrated recipe guide, allowing users to place ingredients directly on the sheet, wrap, and bake. The concept combines learning with creativity, making cooking feel like an interactive art project, perfect for young adults and families looking to try cooking with ease. Unlike traditional recipe books, Eat This Page guides users visually, allowing even beginners to create delicious meals and desserts with minimal effort. With a growing demand for easy, affordable, and fun meal solutions, Eat This Page fills a unique gap. There’s nothing like it currently available, and early feedback shows significant excitement for the product. We’re ready to make cooking more awesome for everyone by turning meal prep into a delightful, hands-on experience that can build confidence in the kitchen and inspire creativity. Cory Pringle Eat This Page United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/305780 2024-11-19T00:00:00Z 2024-11-20T04:05:46Z Variables’ community art installation program weaves together culture, creativity, and connection. Every month we will launch a new, interactive public art installation at our gallery in SE Portland designed around a central theme. Participation in each installation is free and open to anyone no matter their artistic skill, age, or income. As viewers enter the space throughout the month, they are encouraged to create their own piece with our free supplies, adding to the ever-evolving interactive installation. Our upcoming project “Faces of Portland” will be a self-portrait trading card installation. Participants will create a self-portrait on a 3”x5” index card in any medium of their choice and write a bit about themselves on the back. We’ll hang the cards together in a public art installation for one month. At the end of the month, those who have created for the show will be welcomed back to the space to take another artist’s card home. This installation is designed to connect creativity with identity and encourage Portlanders to learn about their neighbors and community members. While the themes and designs for our interactive installations will change monthly, the installations share a central goal: community connection and interaction. We use creative placemaking values including the integration of arts, culture, and design to connect people of different socio-economic backgrounds and build community relationships. By participating in each event, individuals come together for a shared experience and to learn from one another through the art prompt. We anticipate 200 guests will participate in each monthly installation based on previous shows and events. All ages are welcome and all events are free for anyone to participate. We especially encourage people with little or no art experience to join in the fun. Mary Hlastala Community Installation https://www.variablespdx.org/gallery United States Portland, OR https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/portland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/307493 2024-11-19T00:00:00Z 2024-11-28T01:00:50Z I would Love to participate in more community events with a snack cart. I sell fruit cups, chocolate covered strawberries and many different types of snacks and food. I also make smoothies. I have participated in many city and private events buty dream is to have a cart made to make it easier as well as have my presentation be pretty. Miranda Bueno Snack Cart United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/303701 2024-11-19T00:00:00Z 2024-11-28T01:04:34Z We would be thrilled to use this grant to enhance the exterior of our event and concert venue. While we received a grant from South Bend to build a pergola and replace the exterior doors, additional funds would allow us to install railings, add beautiful planters, and improve the flooring. This would help transform the space into something truly special! Nathan Kain Owner - Stockroom East https://www.stockroomeast.com/ United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/300913 2024-11-18T00:00:00Z 2024-12-16T21:16:12Z The Sound Garden is a one-stop-shop for artists of all genres. The project aims to help artists get a leg up from the local level to a much broader audience. The gap between local artists and "established" artists is a lot bigger and more difficult to cross than most artists realize. The goal of The Sound Garden is to provide artists from underrepresented communities connections and opportunities to grow personally and artistically, and take their career from the local level to becoming a star. Miles Doban The Sound Garden http://thesoundgarden4l.com United States Pittsburgh, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/pittsburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/286469 2024-11-15T00:00:00Z 2024-11-20T14:09:20Z We at Tees Tacos have been doing fundraiser's and community spirited events for many years. We have now started to rethink and build our dream of a family business. One thing we want to make sure to do is to continue to give back. We currently are at the home stretch of a brick and mortar store. We couldn't be more proud and excited to bring Indigenous food we like from our home to the greater community. We have thinking left to make this a success. We need a fridge and supplies to help us achieve what we hope to be our first fundraiser for the Emergency Food Pantry. We will be looking at many more as we see different needs in the community. When we are secure it helps us to be able to give back. We hope you will consider helping us get our final products so we can give back. Tanya RedRoad Operation Fundraisers United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cassclay