Kiwanis Club Orlando is awarding grants to six non-profit organizations in Central Florida that offer outstanding support and services for children.  Each $1000 grant is part of the club’s quarterly microgrant program, which is driven by club members who nominate 501(c)(3)organizations that reflect the Kiwanis mission – changing the world one community and one child at a time.

“As a club that focuses on helping children and families in need, we know this is a particularly important time to recognize organizations that share our mission,” says Tom Porter, president of Kiwanis Club Orlando.  “By working together, we can have a greater impact in the community.”

To date the club has awarded $98,000 as part of the microgrant program.   Recipients this quarter are the American Lung Association, Boone High School Athletic Association, Fast Start Management, Inc., Foundation for Foster Children, Orlando Day Nursery, and Quest Kids Academy.  Recipients were nominated based on the following programs:

American Lung Association of Florida
The Open Airways for Schools program helps asthmatic children manage their symptoms. Local clinicians are recruited to serve as volunteer facilitators. Each clinician volunteer receives training from a Lung Association certified OAS Trainer and is certified to deliver the OAS curriculum. These children, parents and teachers are able to make decisions that are more informed and are better able to take appropriate actions when managing pediatric asthma.

Boone High School Athletic Association
The Boone High School Athletic Association has collaborated with the Kiwanis Club of Orlando for several years to conduct track meets for local students in 4th and 5th grades.  With this grant, Kiwanis Club Orlando will become a sponsor for the 5K Reservation Run and featured on T-shirts, signage and publicity.

Fast Start Track and Field Invitational
Fast Start is focused on providing the children of our community with the motivation to run and to help make running fun and exciting. The ultimate goal is to create a love of running among our youth and to develop positive habits that will carry forward.  The Fast Start Track and Field Invitational is an annual event for our elementary-aged students who attend one of the eight public elementary schools.

Foundation for Foster Children
Approximately 70 children per month in the tri-county area have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect and enter the foster care system with little more than the clothes on their back.  The Foundation for Foster Children’s ‘Adopt A Duffle’ program helps provide these special children with some basic items of comfort they can keep permanently. Funds will help offset expenses of the program. 

Orlando Day Nursery
The $1000 grant gives Orlando Day Nursery the ability to replace an old laptop in main meeting area of the nursery, which provides critical childcare services for families in Parramore.  The current laptop is incapable of running multi-media presentations necessary for teacher training and virtual field trips for students. 

Quest Kids Academy
Since the QuestKids Academy’s entire educational approach is based on maximizing individual learning for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, the school must continually update its educational classroom supplies.  Financial support will allow the Academy purchase hardcover books, educational games, dramatic play costumes, and mastery tools.