Giving Tree Grant Recipients L-R:  Dr. Mark Peterson, U of A Cooperative Extension; Rosemary Hamel, Argenta Community Development Corporation; Dr. Cecil McDermott, Technology Task Force of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Coalition; Denise Leeson-Provost, UALR Workplace Skills Enhancement Program

At its May meeting the ARCF Board of Directors approved four inaugural awards from its Giving Tree Fund unrestricted grants initiative.  In February, the Foundation solicited proposals for innovative programs to correspond to this year’s Board theme of community and economic development. The May announcement of recipients of this new grant program coincided with the initial meeting 30 years ago of the founders of the Arkansas Community Foundation. The Board received twenty-four proposals from organizations throughout the state and chose four for funding:

“SAFE Team Community Partnership” – Argenta (North Little Rock) Community Development Corporation, Rosemary Hamel, Executive Director - a proposal to provide neighborhood revitalization and nuisance abatement training to fifteen Arkansas communities.

“Arkansas Technology Integration Initiative” - Technology Task Force of the Arkansas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Coalition (Arkansas Science and Technology Authority), Dr. Gail McClure, Coordinator - a project to produce a set of internet-based resource materials to assist Arkansas teachers in integrating technology skills into the curriculum.

“Citizenship Radio Training Project” - University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Denise Leeson-Provost, Project Coordinator, Workplace Skills Enhancement Program – a proposal to pool university and community-based resources and expertise to  design and deliver U.S. citizenship exam information and training via a variety of media.

“Creating Connected Communities for the 21st Century” - University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Dr. Mark Peterson, Professor-Community Development  - a proposal to pilot in one Arkansas community a year-long process to access information technologies, the Internet, and broadband connectivity to attract and develop knowledge workers.

Click here to read more detailed program descriptions.