More than 100 local organizations will be grateful this Thanksgiving for the support they have received from the Jefferson Foundation, which awarded 111 grants totaling $2,904,180.03 in its second round of grant-giving this year.
In this round, the foundation awarded grants to 105 agencies and set a record for awarding the most grants for $10,000 or less, doling out 54 grants at or under the $10,000 mark.
“We did get a lot of requests for lower dollar amounts,” said Missy Endres, Jefferson Foundation executive vice president. “We also had a higher number of applications this round. We had to do partial funding for some agencies. There are a lot of basic need grants in that $10,000 or less category, and those are always a priority for us.”
The Jefferson 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.
The foundation first started awarding grants in 2014. For the first four years, grants were awarded once a year, and it has been awarding grants in two rounds each year since 2018.
Prior to the second round of grants for this year, the most grants for $10,000 or less awarded in a single round was 50 in the first round of 2022. In the first round of grant giving this year, the foundation awarded 37 grants for $10,000 or less.
The Jefferson Foundation’s latest round of grants ranged from as low as $2,000 to as high as $250,000. The 54 grants that were for $10,000 or less totaled $431,235.35 of the approximately $2.9 million awarded in this round, or about 14.8 percent of the grant money.
The grants for $10,000 or less went to organizations that provide mental health services, food assistance, education, medical care and other services.
“I think those are very important grants and they have a big impact on the community through the various services they provide,” Endres said.
She said the foundation received 143 grant requests for a total of $6,689,167.16 for the second round. In its two rounds of grant-giving this year, the foundation awarded a total of 223 grants to 216 agencies for $6,062,485.82.
“I think it has been a great year,” Endress said. “A lot of high quality applications have been funded, and, hopefully, we are helping the community.”
Endres said second-round recipients were notified about receiving grants on Nov. 3, and checks will be mailed on Dec. 1. She said the foundation will start accepting first-round grant applications for 2026 on Jan. 2, and agencies have until Feb. 5 to apply for those grants.
Endres said the foundation’s current account balance is $210,082,187, and it has awarded 2,096 grants for a total of about $76.8 million since 2014.
Big impact
Raintree Church in Hillsboro received one of two grants for $2,000. Brandi Gallaway, the church’s mission coordinator, said the grant money pays for 60 to 65 Thanksgiving meals for those in need.
“We get names from the Hillsboro Food Pantry, taking those names off their plate so they can help more people on their end,” she said. “The foundation allows us to reach way more people, if we were funding it ourselves. We would probably be able to help 25 ourselves.”
Atlas Youth Outreach, which provides mental health support groups for Jefferson County teenagers, was one of the organizations that received a $10,000 grant.
Jeff Eldon, Atlas executive director of operations, said those funds are significant to the organization, which is based at 1623 Jeffco Blvd., Suite 202, in Arnold. He said Atlas will use the money to cover costs for contracted therapists, space for where groups meet and materials and supplies.
“We can do a lot with that amount of money,” he said. “Because we are group based, the dollar amount that may cover one person for another agency will cover up to eight, 10 or 15 people for us. We can take that small amount and really use it to touch a lot of different lives.”
Camille Graf is the president of the Sacred Heart Conference of the St. Vincent DePaul Society at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 555 Bailey Road, in Crystal City. She said the $7,500 grant the Sacred Heart Conference received is important.
“We get constant calls for help with rent and utilities,” she said. “The $7,500 we got will allow us to help 10 to 20 people. That is 10 to 20 we wouldn’t have been able to help. The need is great right now.”
Larry Hostetler, director of Jefferson County Salvation Army, said the $6,135 grant his organization received has a practical purpose.
The Salvation Army, at 3740 Telegraph Ave. just outside the Arnold city limits, will use the money to build a carport where the agency’s emergency canteen will be parked.
“We needed only a little bit, compared to the larger grants, to be able to put our emergency disaster canteen on our site,” he said. “The requirement the Salvation Army has is you have to have a cover; you can’t just have (the canteen) sitting in a parking lot. Currently (the canteen) is several miles from our facility in a large garage that we have been donated the use of. It doesn’t seem like much, but for us, operationally, it is very significant.”
Karin Kostich, the James II Project founder and executive director, said she is thankful for the foundation’s $10,000 grant. The James II Project provides free lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Jefferson County Salvation Army and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Monday at the First United Methodist Church of Festus-Crystal City, 113 Grand Ave., in Festus.
Kostich said the James II Project will use the grant to determine if it can expand to other Jefferson County locations where the organization may serve meals or if it can team up with another organization to serve meals.
“We want to make sure we go where we can reach the most people,” she said. “We have had great success in Festus. We have had great success in Arnold. Now, we are looking forward to what the future looks like for us. Do we start another location, or do we begin helping other organizations that do not have a budget to serve a meal? Do we get funding to help other organizations and provide meals through that organization?”
The De Soto School District and Northwest R-1 School District each received grants for $10,000 or less. De Soto received $5,060.35 to purchase adaptive physical education equipment, and Northwest received $10,000 to buy workout equipment for an integrated fitness class.
Nicole Spruell, De Soto director of communications and chief grant writer, said the district will buy sensory-friendly liquid floor tiles; adaptive sports sets; and balance and movement tools that will be used at Athena Elementary School.
“Smaller awards like this one allow us to continue strengthening our support for students by providing focused funding that directly enhances specific programs and services,” she said. “In this case, the grant creates an opportunity to build a more inclusive physical education environment for students with disabilities. Even modest grants can transform daily experiences for our students.”
Northwest High School Principal Stella Viehland said the new equipment will provide alternatives to traditional free weights and barbells. She said the equipment will be used in the Unified Physical Education class that is open to freshmen through seniors.
“This class is currently more sports-driven, with students playing volleyball, kickball, as well as other sports and general fitness activities,” Viehland said. “With this new equipment, the class can now include more fitness and strength movements in addition to the walking and recreational games they currently play.
“Our goal for all our students, including students with special needs, is to learn safe technique, establish a routine of fitness and eventually have the confidence and knowledge to work out in a gym within the community after their high school years.”
Bigger grants
The Jefferson Foundation awarded five grants for $100,000 or more in the second round.
■ Chestnut Health Systems received $250,000 to support mental health and substance abuse services in Jefferson County.
■ St. Louis Counseling received $200,000 to provide mental health counseling and presentations in Jefferson County parochial schools and at the agency’s office in Herculaneum.
■ The Jefferson College Foundation received $110,000 to provide academic and housing scholarships and to support the food pantry program. It also received a $20,000 grant to conduct a study of the health occupations program.
■ Catholic Charities of St. Louis received $100,000 to support transitional housing.
■ Promise Community Homes received $100,000 to expand residential services for persons with disabilities in Jefferson County.
Jefferson Foundation 2025 Round 2 Grants
■ 25:35 Ministries: $15,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ Aging Ahead: $10,000, to purchase a check-in kiosk and to support emergency preparedness.
■ 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 support the supervised family visit program.
■ Angels’ Arms: $15,000, 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.
■ Antonia Fire Protection District: $20,000, to purchase rescue airbags.
■ ASPEN Network Inc.: $60,000, to expand mental health services.
■ Atlas Youth Outreach: $10,000, to provide therapeutic support groups for teens in Jefferson County.
■ Back to Play: $10,000, to increase services for neurodiverse children and families.
■ Bethany Christian Services: $10,000, to provide program support for families in crisis and prevent cases of child abuse and neglect.
■ Big River Ambulance District: $8,800, to purchase IV pumps.
■ Birthright of Hillsboro Inc.: $10,000, to provide direct financial assistance to families in need.
■ Boy Scouts of America, Greater St. Louis Area Council: $30,000, 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 injury and their families in Jefferson County.
■ Brenden’s Friday Backpack Program Inc.: $40,000, to purchase program supplies, including food for over 1,750 children in local schools.
■ Buren-Douglass Neighborhood Center: $10,000, to provide healthy living workshops and classes.
■ Buren-Douglass Neighborhood Center: $10,000, to provide training to the board and staff and for strategic planning.
■ C-6 Educational Foundation Inc.: $10,000, to purchase gift cards that will be used to provide students with necessary clothing, shoes and coats. To support prevention programs, Special Olympics and the Special Needs Prom.
■ Casa de Salud: $10,000, to support health services for Jefferson County residents.
■ Catholic Charities of St. Louis: $100,000, to support transitional housing.
■ Cedar Hill Fire Protection District: $15,000, to purchase online continuing education classes for the agency’s personnel.
■ Cedar Oak Sober Living: $40,000, to support services at the sober living facility.
■ 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: $4,915, to upgrade the agency’s facility.
■ Circle of Concern Food Pantry: $10,000, to provide program support for the food pantry and financial assistance programs.
■ City of Crystal City: $50,000, to purchase vehicle extrication tools.
■ City of De Soto: $50,000, to expand the accessible playground.
■ Court Appointed Special Advocates of Jefferson County: $33,500, 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 at-risk of homelessness.
■ De Soto 73 Public Schools: $5,060.35, to purchase adaptive physical education equipment.
■ Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries: $18,589.26, to provide health services at a local food pantry.
■ DeSoto Public Library: $5,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ Developmental Disability Advocates: $20,000, to stabilize the agency’s facility.
■ Disability Resource Association Inc.: $20,000, to upgrade the agency’s technology, for marketing materials, staff retention and to support the home modification program.
■ Disability Resource Association Inc.: $35,000, to purchase supplies for the home modification program.
■ Disability Resource In-Home Services: $30,593, to purchase a vehicle for the in-home care program.
■ Easterseals Midwest: $55,000, to provide hearing and screening services at Jefferson County schools and to provide the full-service audiology program for Jefferson County residents.
■ Faith Community Church: $30,000, to support facility and technology upgrades.
■ Family of Christ Lutheran Church: $5,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ FamilyForward: $60,000, to support the Family Engagement program in Jefferson County.
■ Feed My People: $10,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ Get Healthy DeSoto: $22,562.42, to support the Farmer’s Market.
■ Helping Hands and Horses: $10,000, to purchase portable stalls for the equine therapy program that serves people with disabilities.
■ Hillsboro Christian Church: $10,000, to provide direct financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
■ Hillsboro Fire Protection District: $12,215, to purchase emergency medical equipment.
■ Hillsboro United Methodist Church: $10,000, to purchase food and other basic needs items.
■ Hope Lutheran Church: $8,000, to provide direct financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
■ Integrity Restoration: $20,000, to purchase a skid steer that will increase employment opportunities for people who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.
■ Jefferson College Foundation Inc.: $20,000, to conduct a study of the Health Occupations program.
■ Jefferson College Foundation Inc.: $110,000, to provide academic and housing scholarships and to support the food pantry program.
■ Jefferson County CIT Council: $10,000, to support training for first responders, school staff and crisis professionals.
■ Jefferson County Community Partnership: $95,000, to provide program support for the Children & Families Safe program.
■ Jefferson County Government: $6,350, to purchase medical alert items.
■ Jefferson County Library Foundation: $22,395, to install a soundproof meeting booth for community agencies to meet with clients.
■ Jefferson County – Habitat for Humanity: $15,000, to replace the roof at the agency’s facility.
■ Kids In The Middle: $20,000, to provide group and individual counseling to Jefferson County children.
■ KVC Missouri: $25,000, to support the Incredible Years Parent Education program for families in Jefferson County.
■ Lafayette Industries: $35,840, to support curriculum enhancements for the employment training program.
■ Let Me Run St. Louis: $5,000, to support the Let Me Run program in Jefferson County schools.
■ Little House of Neurodiversity: $10,000, to provide program support and to help expand services.
■ Living Life on 2 Wheels Inc.: $15,000, to support the development of hiking and biking trails.
■ Living Life on 2 Wheels Inc.: $16,000, to support the All Kids Bike program at local schools and to hold a camp for children and adults with special needs.
■ Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network dba Child Care Aware of Missouri: $10,000, to increase access to telemed and telemental health services to childcare educators.
■ Mothers Against Drunk Driving: $10,000, to support the Victim Services and Underage Drinking programs in Jefferson County.
■ New Hope Methodist Church: $3,500, to purchase emergency medical equipment.
■ Nightlight Christian Adoptions: $10,000, to support adoption and foster care services.
■ Northwest School District: $10,000, to purchase workout equipment for an integrated fitness class.
■ Operation Food Search: $35,000, to purchase and distribute food to 12 Jefferson County food pantries.
■ Peace Pantry: $15,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ Pony Bird Inc.: $60,000, to support the implementation of the Health Risk Screening Tool process.
■ Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services: $60,000, to support the Family Solutions for Kids program in Jefferson County.
■ Promise Community Homes: $100,000, to expand residential services for persons with disabilities in Jefferson County.
■ Radiant Life Pentecostal Church of God: $15,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ Raintree Church: $2,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ rEcess: $2,000, to purchase program supplies for the respite program.
■ Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis: $11,000, to provide services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
■ Redemption Church: $10,000, to upgrade technology for the food pantry.
■ Ride On St. Louis: $11,650, to purchase fencing for the equine therapy program that serves people with disabilities.
■ Sacred Heart Catholic Church: $10,000, to support the senior exercise class program.
■ Saint Louis Counseling: $200,000, to provide mental health counseling and presentations in Jefferson County parochial schools and at the agency’s office in Herculaneum.
■ Second Hand Heros: $5,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ Sherwood Forest Inc: $10,000, to provide program support for Jefferson County youth participating in the Quest program.
■ Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired: $35,000, to provide mobile low vision services in Jefferson County.
■ Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Rose of Lima Conference: $3,475, to upgrade the lighting at the agency’s facility.
■ Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Rose of Lima Conference: $7,500, to provide direct financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
■ Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Festus District: $10,000, to provide direct financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
■ Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Sacred Heart - Crystal City Conference: $7,500, to provide direct financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
■ Springhills Presbyterian Church: $6,000, to provide direct financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
■ St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care Center of Arnold: $10,000, to purchase adaptive equipment and communication devices.
■ St. Joseph Catholic Church: $10,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ St. Louis Area Diaper Bank: $25,000, to provide program support for the diaper and period supply 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 Inc.: $5,000, to provide early intervention screenings at early childhood centers in Jefferson County.
■ St. Martha’s Hall: $7,500, to support domestic violence services for Jefferson County residents.
■ St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church: $5,000, to purchase emergency medical equipment.
■ The Arya Foundation: $5,000, to support the Disability Awareness Convention.
■ The Covering House: $40,000, to assist with general operating expenses at the long term therapeutic home.
■ The December 5th Fund: $7,500, to provide services to Jefferson County families who are impacted by cancer.
■ The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition: $35,000, to support foster care placement recruitment efforts in Jefferson County.
■ The James II Project: $10,000, to develop a strategic plan.
■ The Oasis Institute: $25,000, to provide health and wellness classes in Jefferson County.
■ The Salvation Army – Jefferson County: $6,135, to install a carport for the agency’s canteen.
■ The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis: $90,000, to support the Student Advisor program and to provide scholarships for Jefferson County students.
■ Transformation Church: $5,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
■ Twin City Youth Football Association: $5,000, to purchase emergency medical equipment.
■ Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis: $30,000, to provide medical equipment to children with special needs.
■ VOYCE: $10,000, to support the Ombudsman program.
■ Windsor C-1 School District: $52,600, to increase vision screenings and services to students with disabilities.
■ Zion Lutheran Church: $10,000, to provide program support for the basic needs program.
Total: $2,904,180.03