The Jefferson Foundation provided 88 agencies and organizations with an additional reason to be thankful this holiday season.
The foundation awarded 93 grants totaling $3,620,905.69 in its most recent round of grant-giving, the second round this year. In June, the foundation awarded 114 grants to 110 recipients for a total of $3,072,982.81.
“If you look at the grants, there is an emphasis on physical and mental health along with the basic needs,” said Missy Endres, Jefferson Foundation executive vice president. “All of that is key for us, and I think those things were met in this round.”
The foundation has been awarding grants in two rounds each year since 2018, with organizations notified about the grants in May and November and receiving the funds in June and December.
Endres said the foundation received 110 grant applications requesting a total of $6,569,743.03 for the recent round of grants, which followed a trend that has the foundation awarding more six-figure grants near the end of the year.
In this latest round, eight organizations received $100,000 or more in grant funding.
The same number of organizations also received $100,000 or more in the second round last year.
In the first round of grants this year, only four organizations received $100,000 or more.
Agencies that received grants of $100,000 or more were:
■ Chestnut Health Systems: $250,000 to support mental health and substance abuse services in Jefferson County.
■ Jefferson County Health Department: $250,000 to purchase a new mobile medical vehicle.
■ St. Louis Counseling: $200,000 to provide mental health counseling and presentations in Jefferson County parochial schools and at the agency’s office in Herculaneum.
■ OATS: Two grants totaling $190,000 to purchase two vans and support the JeffCo Express public transportation program.
■ Pony Bird: $108,866 to purchase two vans and equipment for facilities.
■ Jefferson College Foundation: $108,000 to provide academic and housing scholarships and to support the food pantry program.
■ Disability Resource Association: Two grants totaling $105,386.30 to implement a marketing plan to increase awareness of agency services, to support the transportation and home modification programs and to purchase equipment for the office.
■ Operation Food Search: $100,000 to help renovate the agency’s facility to increase food storage capacity and food distribution efficiency.
Endres said it is not the foundation’s intention to award larger grant amounts in the second round.
“Each round has its own budget,” she said. “It is a matter of what we receive as requests. We truly look at each round with its own budget.”
The foundation was created from the $154 million the Mercy health system paid in 2013 when it acquired Jefferson Regional Medical Center (now Mercy Hospital Jefferson) in Crystal City. It began awarding grants in 2014.
Endres said the foundation’s current account balance is $160,604,473, and it has awarded 1,636 grants for a total of about $66.6 million since it was formed.
Chestnut Health Systems
Jim Wallis, Missouri’s director of business development for Chestnut Health Systems, said the mental health and substance abuse health care provider will use the grant funds to enhance the programs established when the organization began operating in Jefferson County in March 2020. Chestnut provides resources for adolescents and adults.
Chestnut has an office at 102 Fourth St. in Hillsboro, and it provides support for the De Soto, Dunklin R-5, Fox C-6, Jefferson R-7, Northwest R-1 and Windsor C-1 school districts.
“The new funding will allow us to widen the net for people who may not have insurance or do not have a standing psychiatrist relationship,” Wallis said.
The foundation helped Chestnut establish a presence in the county by awarding the organization a three-year grant worth $3 million in 2019.
Endres said the foundation has been impressed with the services Chestnut has provided in the county.
“They have formed great partnerships with the Health Department and other agencies,” she said. “We have been very pleased with what they have added to the county.”
Health Department
The importance of the relationship between the Jefferson County Health Department and the Jefferson Foundation was magnified in this round of grants, said Brianne Zwiener, a Health Department spokeswoman.
The Health Department has received a total of $4,698,143.07 in foundation grants since 2014.
Zwiener said the Health Department’s large mobile medical unit, a 2000 Airstream recreation vehicle, was knocked out of commission this summer when it was involved in an accident.
She said the RV driver had to swerve to avoid another vehicle and part of the mobile unit went off the road, which caused extensive damage to its rear and undercarriage.
“We are always grateful for the foundation, but this time, we are extra thankful,” Zwiener said. “This is a crucial need. We have seen a huge impact with our mobile health van. The fact (the foundation is) able to help us get that much further through the process (of getting a new mobile unit) is really great.”
The Health Department uses the RV to travel throughout the county and provide screenings for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, as well as for acute and chronic care for medical conditions, and to complete examinations, like sports physicals.
Zwiener said the Health Department has been using one of its three smaller medical vans, which primarily are used for testing and vaccinations, to cover the mobile unit’s services.
“It has not been easy, but I will say kudos to our staff for stepping up and making it work,” she said. “The smaller van is about the size of an Amazon delivery van, while the mobile unit was more like an RV. We are still able to provide point of care and most screenings, but we don’t have the ability to do everything. We have been able to set up at the Division of Family Services and other places like that to be able to use their facilities. We are still finding a way to work, but with the grant funding, a barrier has been broken down for us.”
Zwiener said the Health Department plans to review bids for a new mobile unit in January, but she did not say how soon the Health Department expects to get the new larger mobile unit.
Endres said the foundation is excited about helping the Health Department cover the cost of the mobile unit.
“It couldn’t be any more tied to our grant topics with the health services provided through this van,” she said. “When it is not in operation, people are not getting services. We are very excited to be part of this to make sure these services are available throughout the county.”
St. Louis Counseling
St. Louis Counseling, formerly called Catholic Family Services, has received a total of $2,278,807.16 from the Jefferson Foundation, including the latest $200,000 grant.
Sharon Spruell, CEO for St. Louis Counseling, said the agency appreciates the foundation’s support.
“The needs for mental health continue to grow in our community, and we are grateful to be there to provide support and services,” she said. “Without this funding from the Jefferson Foundation, we may not be able to do that.”
Spruell said St. Louis Counseling has operated in Jefferson County since 1988. The agency has a location at 1349 McNutt St. in Herculaneum and provides services for the Festus R-6 and Fox C-6 school districts and Catholic schools. She said the grant funds will allow the agency to continue to provide its services.
“Their programs continue to be successful, and they report great results,” Endres said. “We are very happy to continue to partner with them.”
New recipients
The following four organizations received foundation grants for the first time in the foundation’s latest round of funding:
■ 25:35 Ministries: $50,000 to purchase a van to support people who are homeless.
■ Circle of Concern Food Pantry: $10,000 to provide program support for the food pantry and financial assistance programs.
■ Little House of Neurodiversity: $10,000 to provide program support and to help expand services.
■ The December 5th Fund: $5,000 to provide services to Jefferson County families who are impacted by cancer.
Endres said it is important for the foundation to add new recipients.
“We believe we have helped bring a lot of new services to Jefferson County and to be able to continue that is key for us,” she said.
Jefferson Foundation 2023 Round 2 Grants
■ 25:35 Ministries: $50,000, to purchase a van to serve people who are homeless.
■ ALIVE: $65,000, to support counseling services, transportation services and the Nights of Safety program for Jefferson County victims of domestic violence.
■ All For Family: $30,000, to provide therapeutic supervised family visits.
■ Angels’ Arms: $20,000, to support the foster homes located in Jefferson County.
■ Anthropedia Foundation: $30,000, to support the wellness center in the Northwest School District and to provide workshops and seminars throughout the community.
■ Atlas Youth Outreach: $9,400, to provide therapeutic support groups for teens in Jefferson County.
■ Boy Scouts of America, Greater St. Louis Area Council: $33,000, to provide program support and camp scholarships for Jefferson County Scouts.
■ Brain Injury Association of Missouri: $15,000, to provide services to survivors of brain injuries and their families in Jefferson County.
■ Brenden’s Friday Backpack Program: $30,000, to purchase program supplies, including food, for more than 1,500 children in local schools.
■ C-6 Educational Foundation: $10,000, to purchase gift cards that will be used to provide students in need with necessary clothing, shoes and coats and to support prevention programs, Special Olympics and the Special Needs Prom.
■ Camp Circle Star: $30,000, to purchase a vehicle for the camp that serves children and adults with special needs.
■ Casa de Salud: $10,000, to support health services for Jefferson County residents.
■ Center for Hearing and Speech: $55,000, to provide hearing and screening services at Jefferson County schools and to provide the full-service audiology program for Jefferson County residents.
■ CHADS Coalition For Mental Health: $65,000, to increase mental health services in Jefferson County.
■ Chestnut Health Systems: $250,000, to support mental health and substance abuse services in Jefferson County.
■ Child Center – Marygrove: $26,000, to support residential treatment services for Jefferson County children and youth.
■ Circle of Concern Food Pantry: $10,000, to provide program support for the food pantry and financial assistance programs.
■ Court Appointed Special Advocates of Jefferson County: $30,000, to support the agency’s marketing efforts to recruit potential CASA volunteers.
■ Covenant House Missouri: $10,000, to provide services for Jefferson County youth who are experiencing or are at-risk of homelessness.
■ Crystal City School District: $10,000, to purchase food for the weekend backpack program.
■ Deaf Empowerment Awareness Foundation: $5,000, to provide American Sign Language instruction courses to Jefferson County organizations.
■ Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments: $15,000, to provide services for children in Jefferson County who are visually impaired.
■ Disability Resource Association: $10,000, to implement a marketing plan to increase awareness of agency services.
■ Disability Resource Association: $95,386.3, to support the transportation and home modification programs and to purchase equipment for the office.
■ Dunklin R-5 School District: $19,000, to implement a program focused on decreasing classroom disruptions and discipline referrals.
■ Eye Thrive: $15,000, to implement a human resources management program.
■ FamilyForward: $91,605, to support foster care services in Jefferson County.
■ Feed My People: $25,000, to purchase new refrigeration units for the food pantry.
■ Finding Grace Ministries: $35,000, to provide services for Jefferson County residents who are homeless.
■ Finding Grace Ministries: $50,000, to pave the parking lot at the transitional living center.
■ Foster Together: $19,770, to provide support for the basic needs program that serves foster parents and children.
■ Get Healthy De Soto: $20,000, to support current and new programs.
■ Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri: $7,695, to purchase a used golf cart that will increase the accessibility of the camp.
■ Girls on the Run of St. Louis: $10,000, to provide training to the Jefferson County program staff and to provide program support.
■ HEROES CARE: $50,000, to purchase a box truck that will be used to pick up and deliver donated items.
■ Helping Hands and Horses: $10,000, to support the agency’s equine therapy program for people with disabilities.
■ Hillsboro United Methodist Church: $10,000, to purchase food and other basic needs items.
■ Hope Lutheran Church: $7,500, to provide direct financial assistance to people and families in need.
■ Jefferson College Foundation: $108,000, to provide academic and housing scholarships and to support the food pantry program.
■ Jefferson County Community Partnership: $95,000, to provide program support for the Children and Families Safe program.
■ Jefferson County Government: $5,200, to purchase medical alert items.
■ Jefferson County Health Department: $250,000, to purchase a new mobile medical vehicle.
■ Jefferson County Rescue Mission: $52,254.41, to repair the agency’s garage and increase storage space.
■ Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation: $25,000, to increase transportation services in Jefferson County.
■ Kids In The Middle: $30,000, to provide group and individual counseling to Jefferson County children.
■ KMA Foundation: $24,000, to provide a safe driving awareness program to schools in Jefferson County.
■ Little House of Neurodiversity: $10,000, to provide program support and to help expand services.
■ LIV Recovery Sober Living: $30,000, to provide staff training and to implement electronic health records.
■ Living Faith Food Pantry: $13,070, to seal and stripe the agency’s parking lot.
■ Living Life on 2 Wheels: $20,000, to support the development of hiking and biking trails.
■ Living Well Village Foundation: $40,000, to provide scholarships for the residential summer weight loss camp for kids.
■ Make-A-Wish Missouri and Kansas: $20,000, to grant wishes for Jefferson County children who have critical illnesses.
■ Mapaville Fire Protection District: $27,060.98, to purchase exercise equipment.
■ Nightlight Christian Adoptions: $25,000, to provide program support for the foster family recruitment and training program.
■ OATS: $90,000, to purchase two vans for the transportation program.
■ OATS: $100,000, to provide program support for the JeffCo Express public transportation program.
■ Office of Job Training Programs: $70,000, to support employment services for Jefferson County residents.
■ Operation Food Search: $100,000, to help renovate the agency’s facility to increase food storage capacity and food distribution efficiency.
■ Ozark Food Pantry: $25,000, to support the basic needs program and to make repairs to the agency’s facility.
■ Peace Pantry: $60,000, to conduct a feasibility study and to hire a director.
■ Pony Bird: $108,866, to purchase two vans and equipment for agency facilities.
■ Precious Cargo Transportation for Children: $5,000, to support the supervised visit program.
■ Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services: $60,000, to support the Family Solutions for Kids program in Jefferson County.
■ Promise Community Homes: $62,000, to purchase a vehicle to be used to maintain the agency’s four homes in Jefferson County.
■ rEcess: $2,000, to purchase program supplies for the respite program.
■ Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis: $11,000, to increase services for people with developmental disabilities.
■ Redemption Church: $15,000, to purchase food for the basic needs program.
■ Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis: $25,000, to provide program support to assist with the cost of services for Jefferson County families.
■ Sacred Heart Catholic Church: $4,800, to support the senior exercise class program.
■ Safe Connections: $50,000, to support the expansion of the violence prevention and counseling program to Jefferson County schools.
■ St. Louis Counseling: $200,000, to provide mental health counseling and presentations in Jefferson County parochial schools and at the agency’s office in Herculaneum.
■ Sherwood Forest: $10,000, to provide program support for Jefferson County youth participating in the Quest program.
■ Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired: $35,000, to provide mobile low vision services in Jefferson County.
■ Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Rose of Lima Conference: $7,500, to provide direct financial assistance to people and families in need.
■ Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Sacred Heart - Crystal City Conference: $7,500, to provide direct financial assistance to people and families in need.
■ St. Louis Area Diaper Bank: $5,000, to support the development of a three-year strategic plan.
■ St. Louis Area Diaper Bank: $45,000, to provide program support for the diaper, period supply and potty training programs in Jefferson County.
■ St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program: $50,000, to support the health equipment lending program in Jefferson County.
■ St. Louis Learning Disabilities Association: $5,000, to provide early intervention screenings at early childhood centers in Jefferson County.
■ St. Martha’s Hall: $5,000, to support domestic violence services for Jefferson County residents.
■ The Arya Foundation: $5,000, to support the Disability Awareness Convention.
■ The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, St. Louis Chapter: $15,000, to ensure Jefferson County children have access to life-saving asthma equipment and medication.
■ The Covering House: $35,000, to help with general operating expenses at the long-term therapeutic home.
■ The December 5th Fund: $5,000, to provide services to Jefferson County families impacted by cancer.
■ The Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition: $75,000, to support the purchase of new space for the agency’s headquarters, which is needed to expand services.
■ The Oasis Institute: $25,000, to provide health and wellness classes in Jefferson County.
■ The Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation: $7,500, to implement a telehealth system.
■ The Salvation Army - Arnold Corps: $27,700, to make improvements to the agency’s facility.
■ The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis: $90,000, to support the Student Advisor program and to provide scholarships for Jefferson County students.
■ Trailnet: $53,098, to develop a walking and biking strategy in Hillsboro.
■ Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis: $30,000, to provide medical equipment to children with special needs.
■ VOYCE: $10,000, to recruit volunteer ombudsmen to visit Jefferson County long-term care communities.
■ Western Governors University: $25,000, to provide scholarships for Jefferson County students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
Total: $3,620,905.69