Press release from Children First NC
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation awards $30,000 to
Children First/ Communities In Schools of Buncombe County
Project grant to support community movement to reduce poverty
Asheville, N.C. (July 18, 2013) – Trustees of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation recently awarded a project grant to Children First/ Communities In Schools of Buncombe County to support its Success Equation initiative – a local movement to reduce poverty and its impact on children in Buncombe County through education, collaboration, and advocacy, resulting in a community where all children thrive.
Children First/ Communities In Schools advocates for Buncombe County children while providing direct services for economically disadvantaged children, youth, and families.
“The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation believes that bringing diverse voices together to solve community problems is an important component of fostering a healthy democracy,” said Leslie Winner, Executive Director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. “Children First/ Communities In Schools of Buncombe County is working with people – across sectors, race, class and geography – to address one of the most pressing issues of our time, child poverty. We are proud to partner together to achieve this shared vision.”
“Funding from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to support the Success Equation is incredibly timely, and much needed,” said Allison Jordan, Executive Director of Children First/ CIS. “The climate in Raleigh for policies that assist low income children and families is difficult, and we are facing challenges at the same time that the need is great. In Buncombe County, one in four families suffer food hardship and one in two children receive free and reduced lunch due to low family income.”
“Reversing the status quo requires changes in public awareness and understanding; changes in laws, programs and budget priorities; and changes in how communities support all children,” said Greg Borom, Director of Advocacy with Children First/ CIS. “The Success Equation brings the community together to support children so that they can live happy, safe, and productive lives. We are grateful to Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for recognizing and supporting this work.”
Children First/ Communities In Schools of Buncombe County is one of 81 grants that the Trustees of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation approved during its spring 2013 grant awards on May 10. Trustees voted to award grants totaling $11.3 million to organizations in 26 North Carolina counties.
ABOUT CHILDREN FIRST/ COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Children First/ Communities In Schools of Buncombe County is a local non-profit that provides programs to economically disadvantaged children & families. Children First’s mission is to empower children and their families to reach their full potential through advocacy, education, and services. The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. To find out more go to www.childrenfirstbc.org.
ABOUT Z. SMITH REYNOLDS FOUNDATION
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (ZSR) invests in statewide, multi-county and community-based organizations that are dedicated to building an inclusive, sustainable and vibrant state. The groups that the foundation supports work to build healthy, robust communities at the local level and engage in education, civic dialogue and advocacy around issues of importance to communities and to North Carolina. ZSR currently focuses on the areas of community economic development, environment, public education, social justice and equity and strengthening democracy. The foundation is a 75-year-old private foundation based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.zsr.org.
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