Community Foundation extends multi-year grant to the Center for Violence Free Relationships

In 2010 the El Dorado Community Foundation sent out requests for proposals for a multi-year grant opportunity to over 300 local nonprofit organizations. The foundation’s focus was to fund a program that would have lasting results in the lives of children and their families and thus they created a grant in the amount of $60,000 to be doled out at a rate of $20,000 per year for three years. The continuing grant was dependent upon reporting clear, quantitative, positive results.

Because research tells us that exposure to domestic violence has a significant negative impact on a child’s emotional, social and cognitive development and if left unaddressed, will have long-term consequences that often affect an individual’s ability to function as healthy adults, the Center for Violence Free Relationships submitted its application with the hopes of funding a new program named the Second Generation Project.

As its name implies, the project’s objective was to intervene and implement comprehensive counseling for children and families who had experienced domestic violence in order to stop the inter-generational transmission of violence. This intervention would include four target areas:

• Breaking the silence and giving youth a place to talk about their experience.

• Emotional coping and development of positive behavior patterns.

• Parental training to cope and to nurture.

• Creating a healing environment for the entire family.

Matt Huckabay, executive director of the center wrote: “Creating this program was truly a labor of love. Several staff members, interns and volunteers spent two years researching, designing the curriculum, identifying the outcomes, and conducting a nationwide peer review of every program component. The entire process and success of the program would not have been possible without the generosity of the El Dorado Community Foundation.”

Huckabay relayed this story in a recent newsletter from the center:

“Last week as I was leaving the center, I heard something unique; sounds that we usually don’t hear — the sound of children laughing. Curious, I proceeded to follow this beautiful sound to its source. I rounded the hallway and there they were. Seven magnificent kids all working together to create life-sized cutouts of their bodies on big sheets of white paper. Their exuberance, excitement and a light-heartedness filled the room with the magical energy that only kids can generate. I took a few moments to watch them work on their project. I smiled and felt a tremendous sense of gratitude; gratitude that these kids, each of whom has experienced family violence are able to be part of the center’s Second Generation Project .”

Due to the extent to which this program was executed, researched, evaluated and surveyed, not only is the Community Foundation proud to deliver their third installment of this $60,000 grant to the center, but the Second Generation Project itself is being considered for implementation in like organizations throughout the entire country.

The El Dorado Community Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 established for the purpose of strengthening our community both now and for future generations. The foundation solicits and manages charitable gifts through endowed funds. Grants are awarded throughout El Dorado County in support of local nonprofit programs, services for the residents of El Dorado County. Individuals or organizations interested in learning more about the foundation or how the foundation may be able to help them realize their charitable dreams are invited to contact Bill Roby, executive director, El Dorado Community Foundation, PO Box 1388, 312 Main St., Suite 201, Placerville 95667, 530-622-5621, or bill@eldoradocf.org.