The news, from the Downtown Association:
The Asheville Downtown Association announces the recipients of its 2012 Downtown After 5 wristband grants. Chosen organizations sell wristbands at one of the five concerts and receive a grant of up to $2,000.
Selected nonprofits are Asheville GreenWorks (May 18), Katy’s Kids/MANNA FoodBank (June 15), Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association (July 20), Homeward Bound (August 17) and Blue Ridge Pride (September 21).
Asheville GreenWorks is a longtime recipient of the Downtown After 5 wristband grants and uses the funds to remove litter and graffiti as well as plant trees in downtown areas.
Homeward Bound’s mission is to end chronic homelessness in the Asheville area. Since shifting its focus to housing, Homeward Bound has helped move 353 individuals into their own homes and 89% of them are still stable in housing.
“With the funds we raise through our participation in Downtown After 5, we’ll be able to move more people out of homelessness and into homes of their own and to support them so they stay in housing,” said Emily Ball, Homeward Bound’s director of community engagement.
Katy’s Kids works with MANNA FoodBank raising money for the MANNA Packs Program. The Asheville area recently ranked third in the nation for food insecurity making programs like Katy’s Kids even more vital to our community.
“One dollar feeds three children, so with the $2,000 we can help feed 6,000 children throughout Western North Carolina,” Jennifer Piercy, Katy’s Kids’ president.
The Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association will receive grant funding for the first time and plans to use it to continue to bring soccer and other team sports to more than 800 at-risk and underserved children in the community.
Blue Ridge Pride, another first-time grant recipient, will enhance and support its annual Blue Ridge Pride Festival with funds secured through the grant program.
The Asheville Downtown Association has awarded more than $55,000 in wristband grant funds to local charitable organizations since the grant program’s start in 2006. Previous recipients include: Arts 2 People, Asheville on Bikes, Asheville Grown, Downtown Asheville Residential Neighbors (DARN), LEAF in Schools and Streets, Moog Foundation, YMCA of Western North Carolina, YMI Cultural Center and YWCA of Asheville.
Downtown After 5 is a production of the Asheville Downtown Association, a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation and improvement of the central business district. A full entertainment lineup will be announced at the April 11 Kickoff Celebration. Volunteer opportunities are still available.
More information about Downtown After 5 and the Asheville Downtown Association can be found online at www.ashevilledowntown.org. or by following through social media including Facebook (www.facebook.com/AshevilleDowntownAssociation) and Twitter (@AvilleDowntown).
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