KWBU provides quality public television and radio programs and services for the Central Texas area. A challenge grant was made to help ensure the community would support the station with matching grants. As a result of the grant, a fundraising campaign garnered media attention and raised the amount of revenue needed for yearly operations. Waco Performing Arts Alliance $25,000 Waco, Texas The historic Hippodrome Theater, a 1914 movie and vaudeville theater, continues to be used for live theatrical and musical events. A partnership was formed to create an alliance among opera, live theatre and other cultural event providers. In the course of the merger of these groups a funding shortfall was created, and the Foundation responded with a challenge grant to increase community awareness and participation. democracy

Since its inception in 1979, Alliance for Justice has worked to advance the cause of justice for all Americans, strengthen the public interest and influence public policy with an emphasis on nonprofit and foundation advocacy. Alliance for Justice received general support funding for its work as a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations. This grant especially assisted AFJ's active policy strategy to preserve, expand, and defend nonprofit advocacy and foundation advocacy grant making. Economic Policy Institute $100,000 Washington, DC EPI works to strengthen democracy by providing people with the tools to participate in the public discussion on the economy, believing that such participation will result in economic policies that better reflect public interest. A grant from the Foundation increased and improved the quality of research and analysis that is disseminated into the mainstream. By supporting this research capacity, EPI strives to make a difference in national policy debates, the outcomes of which impact tens of millions poor and working families. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute $50,000 Hyde Park, New York The Roosevelt Institute strives to enlighten new generations about the spirit of idealism and democracy that was the hallmark of the era of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. The Institute believes the Four Freedoms - Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear -are essential to a flourishing democracy, and to encourage those freedoms at home and abroad. This grant will support a series of events that promote the Four Freedoms, and commemorate the 70th Birthday of Social Security.

This web-based, progressive research and information center is dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting misinformation in the U.S. media. Launched in May 2004, Media Matters for America put in place the means to systematically monitor a cross section of print, broadcast, cable, radio, and Internet media outlets for news or commentary that is not accurate, reliable, or credible. Media Matters works daily to notify activists, journalists, pundits, and the general public about instances of misinformation, providing them with the resources to rebut false claims and to take direct action against offending media institutions. The grant will support future planned growth and expansion.

The Saguaro Seminar, a project based at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, strives to develop a handful of far-reaching, action-oriented ideas to significantly increase Americans' connectedness to one another and to community institutions. According to Robert Putnam, the author of the book Bowling Alone, social capital reflects the attitude and willingness of people to engage in collec-tive activities and is a key component to building and maintaining democracy. The grant was used to assist in the 2005 Social Capital Benchmark Survey.

Texas Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents committed to the civic purposes of higher education. TXCC promotes community service that develops students' citizenship skills and values. The grant was used to hire a full-time program coordinator to assist the executive director in the implementation of the regional structure and to support student programming

The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) promotes racial, social, and economic justice through education and litigation. This grant will help ensure ongoing support for their work in the areas of voting rights, police and border misconduct, sex discrimination, employment bias, privacy, disability rights, grand jury discrimination, traditional civil liberties (i.e. free speech), and Title IX in secondary education as well as reducing violence against women.

Daring Cetaceans is a "traveling classroom" that aims to educate children of all ages about marine mammals and their environment by bringing artifacts and interactive "show and tell" items to schools throughout the country. The program staff also offers to be a leading resource for marine mammal scientists and researchers. Using a colorful bus adorned with whales and dolphins, the program will travel 3,000 miles in its first year. The grant was used to bring the program to the Rapoport Academy and some schools within Waco Independent School District.

Since its establishment in 1966, McLennan Community College has grown to a two-year college educating almost 8,000 students per semester and providing educational opportunity for residents in the local community. McLennan Community College Foundation was created in 1990 to help students achieve their educational goals by assisting them with financial scholarships. The College and the Foundation are working on a major initiative to attract more first-generation college students. The grant, payable over two years, is used to cover the cost of an outreach coordinator and funds to be allocated for a two-year scholarship for six “first generation” college students.

MCYC is a provider of youth and family-serving programs for the citizens of McLennan, Limestone, Freestone, Bosque, Hill and Falls Counties. This group supports and strengthens children, youth, and families through advocacy, collaborative action, and the innovative use of community resources. One program that MCYC oversees is Communities In Schools which connects the needed commu-nity resources with schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school, and prepare for life. The grant was used to expand CIS to Marlin Independent School District in Falls County.

Strong schools make a strong community is the belief of this national organization of community-based chapters working in public schools through broad-based enrollment. A local PPS promotes excellence for all children in the Waco Independent School District by empowering parents to be constructively engaged partners across campus and district levels. The grant established a Parent Leadership Institute for parents in Waco ISD. The Parent Leadership Institute strengthens the role of families in education reform and accountability. It will use parents' untapped potential in the reform process, address the needs of underserved families to be better served, and attend to the broader interests and responsibility of the community to provide quality edu-cation for all students.

This school was created to educate a population of children whose families are typically well under the median income. The school stresses high expectations for students, includes parent/family involvement, and school/community volunteerism so that students will acquire a base of real world experiences to maintain motivation toward being lifelong learners and community participants. This grant was used to staff areas of English/language, arts/literature, mathematics and a contained fifth grade class.

Honoring Jim Wright, a former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, TCU hosts the Jim Wright Symposia Series, an annual one-day conference that brings together nationally-recognized scholars in political science, public policy and other social sciences who are invited to present papers on political thought, process, leadership, and policy issues for critique and analysis. Launched in 2002, this grant will assist in continuing this annual one-day conference. University of Texas as Austin $438,842 Austin, Texas The Rapoport Service Scholarship is open to freshman enrolled in Liberal Arts. The scholarship awards up to $7,500 per year for three years beginning the summer after the freshman year and includes a laptop computer. This scholarship requires student partici-pation in community service during the summer. By working with a nonprofit organization, a student gains knowledge about this sector and the value that these agencies provide. Students are able to select the nonprofit group that will benefit from their assistance. The students work together in a variety of service projects during the year and then write about their experience with others in their cohort group.

The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice serves as a focal point for critical discussion and policy analysis of human rights law and advocacy. The Foundation made a significant grant to establish the Center, which is a multifaceted and multidisciplinary program that features conferences, speakers, events and clinical experi-ences for students. The grant was used for scholarships, publicity and the collaboration to develop a curriculum to teach the Living Newspaper.

Wellstone Action is a national center for training and leadership development for the progressive movement. Founded in January 2003, Wellstone Action's mission is to honor the legacy of Paul and Sheila Wellstone by continuing their work through training, educating, mobilizing and organizing a vast network of progressive individuals and organizations. Campus Camp Wellstone, is a new training program for students across the country interested in gaining skills in leadership, political action, and civic engage-ment. The grant supports the training team with traveling expenses and other direct costs to produce the training.

Founded in 1925 in Vilna, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania), as the Yiddish Scientific Institute, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is dedicated to the history and culture of Ashkenazi Jewry and to its influence in the Americas. Headquartered in New York City since 1940, today YIVO is the world's preeminent resource center for East European Jewish Studies, Yiddish language, literature and folklore, and the American Jewish immi-grant experience. Of the more than 13 million Jews worldwide (including over 6 million in the U.S., 5 million in Israel and more than 650,000 in Eastern Europe), many seek infor-mation about their origins and the lives of their ancestors. The grant contributed to the development of the YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe.

CHASS is a community-based organization formed to develop, pro-mote and provide comprehensive, accessible and affordable quality primary health care and support services to all residents of the com-munity with special emphasis on the underserved population. Established as a Federally Qualified Health Clinic, CHASS strives to reduce racial and ethnic barriers to healthcare and work proactively to prevent diseases and improve public health. The grant assisted in the construction of a 42,000 square foot building that would replace the existing Southwest facility. Olde Towne Medical Center $19,102 Williamsburg, Virginia OTMC is a public-private nonprofit agency providing cost-effective, comprehensive primary and preventive health care (including obstetrical) to uninsured, Medicaid, and Medicare population liv-ing in three political jurisdictions with an approximate total population of 100,000. The heart of the Center is the provision of preventive care and early intervention services to a vulnerable and disad-vantaged population with services to children and their families a priority. The grant allows OTMC to hire a nurse educator to educate patients about specific diseases with measurable indicators such as diabetes, asthma, obesity, and thyroid diseases.

Health services for low-income women is the focus of this agency that welcomes everyone regardless of race, age, disability, sexual orientation, or income. While this agency offers vitally-needed indigent health care, federal funding has been cut substantially for family planning organizations nationwide. Payable over four years, the grant will enable this organization to keep their patient numbers at the present level.

AVANCE is a community-based organization offering parent and early childhood education and comprehensive family support services to low-income, primarily Hispanic families. AVANCE's mission is "Unlocking America's Potential" as parents are taught that they are the first and most important teachers for their children. Originally funded with a significant grant to launch the pro-gram in Waco, this two-year grant will assist in ongoing program support.

The Advocacy Center provides programs that serve to bring about healing to children and adults who are victims of crime and to facilitate change to end violence through advocacy, collaboration, and community awareness. The Center is an umbrella victims' service center with three programs: Victims' Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and Children's Advocacy Center. The grant was used to support these programs after statewide funding cuts were enacted.

Caritas of Waco has provided a safety net for some of the most disadvantaged citizens of Waco and McLennan County community for 38 years. It provides emergency assistance that can include food, shelter and clothing. In providing assistance to food pantries Caritas found that many of the residents were eligible for food stamps. As a result, the McLennan County Hunger Coalition, a loose-knit organization of local pantries was established. The grant will be used to employ a full-time person to coordinate the educa-tion and outreach effort to encourage all residents of McLennan County who are eligible for food stamps to apply for these benefits.

A hot lunch delivered by Meals on Wheels often is the only nutritious meal an elderly client receives each day. Many volunteer hours are contributed in the form of preparing, packaging and delivering these meals. This grant will assist in providing meals to 3,703 of Waco's low-income homebound seniors. Family Abuse Center $25,000 Waco, Texas The Family Abuse Center is a crisis center providing temporary emergency and short-term shelter service. Individual counseling, job training, housing options, parenting and group counseling are also provided to residents and non-residents. This grant helped to fund the "Start-First Anti-Violence" program to prevent or reduce vio-lence at an early age. The curriculum includes teaching alternative behaviors and providing intervention counseling to schools, stu-dents, and their parents. The curriculum is geared for all school-ages. The grant was used for continuance of this program in light of statewide funding cuts.

FCCS provides professional counseling services that include issues related to marriage, separation and divorce, parent/child conflicts, blended families, school behavior, depression and anxiety, and other life adjustments. Due to the growing Hispanic population, the grant was used to assist in the staffing of a Spanish speaking coun-selor.

The Jerusalem Foundation mission is to strengthen, promote and enhance a free, open, pluralistic and modern society in Jerusalem, by responding to the pressing needs of the city and working to improve the lives of its residents. The Audre Rapoport High School was selected to receive funding as it is located in a disadvantaged neighborhood that is among the poorest in Jerusalem. The school used some of the funds to establish a tutorial center to help stu-dents in crisis to cope educationally, emotionally and socially. Quinn Campus, Inc. 23,307 Waco, Texas In 1990 Paul Quinn College, the first black college west of the Mississippi River, relocated to Dallas, Texas leaving a hole in the East Waco community. After years of neglect, community leaders decided to step in and turn around the decline. Quinn Campus, Inc. was established to serve as the facilitator and man-ager for the development of the campus. With the various phases of the revitaliza-tion of the Campus, continued clean-up was required. The grant was used in assisting in the clean-up of the science building.

Created in 1964, the Stilwell Retirement Residence is an independent, nonprofit, living center located in Waco that is home to nearly 100 former educators. It is the only retirement home in Texas that is dedicated to former educators. With the addition of a substantially expanded library, the grant provided a selection of large print books for the residents.

Talitha Koum means (in Aramaic) "My child, get up!" The program provides the opportunity for children of a local government housing area to "get up," to rise above the injustices of poverty and racism. This grant funded a program called "Making Waves," which provides access to a neighbor-hood swimming pool, teaches swimming proficiency, and encourages youth leaders to learn to become lifeguards. In addition to providing valuable and much needed recreation, the program addresses swimming skills and promotes a sense of responsibility among older children.

UJC provides humanitarian assistance to those in need, and translates Jewish values into social action on behalf of millions of Jews in hundreds of communities in North America, in towns and vil-lages throughout Israel, and sixty countries around the world. Yearly support goes to UJC to build and strengthen Israel based Jewish communities and activities, and to nurture Jewish learning and education. This year, the focus of the grant was to assist in the immigration and settlement of Ethiopian Jews.

In an effort to help teenagers understand the responsibilities of pregnancy, Youth Connection uses the educational "Baby-Think-It-Over" program. The grant was used to purchase new infant simu-lators to replace the ones that have worn out. Schools and youth groups borrow the "babies" that are then loaned to teens for a three-day trial period to familiarize them with parenthood issues.