Invest in your local community by giving to 11 nonprofits for A Community Thrives grant

There's one simple way you can help boost the local art scene, put on plays, feed the hungry, get people where they need to go or educate people, and that's thanks to a grant initiative sponsored by the Gannett Foundation.

A Community Thrives is a national effort by Gannett, the Argus Leader's parent company, to support community organizations and address social issues. Since the program’s inception in 2017,  more than $17 million have been donated by the Gannett Foundation through crowdfunding efforts, which have been dispersed to more than 500 organizations across the country.

Locally, the Argus Leader has been able to give thousands to area charities and organizations over the years. Last year, we were able to award Reach Literacy with $15,000 and Friends of the W. H. Over Museum in Vermillion $5,000 from A Community Thrives.

"Reach has long known that educating women lifts the entire family," Paige Carda, executive director of Reach Literacy, said after receiving a grant. "The funds from this grant allow Reach to expand and strengthen our outreach. Thank you, Gannett Foundation."

Two years ago, the program gave $20,000 to three local nonprofits: Project Car, Breathe Bravely and the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival.

More: Help local nonprofits raise serious cash: It's the annual A Community Thrives grant program

Now, eleven nonprofits are participating in the fundraising campaign this year. They will work to raise money on their own through a crowdfunding campaign, then may be eligible for 16 major grants to be awarded across the country: three for $100,000, seven for $50,000 and six for $25,000.

Those grants will go toward helping the organizations execute their proposed projects. Other grants include Operating Grants for eligible entrants with community operations in Gannett’s markets, Incentive Grants for groups that raise the most funds and Bonus Challenge Grants for those who wish to compete.

The fundraising campaign begins at 11 a.m. Monday, July 18 and runs through 8 p.m. Aug. 12. Each week, there’s also a different incentive grant available for either the most unique donors, or the most raised that week.

For more information or to donate, visit acommunitythrives.mightycause.com. 

Here’s a look at the 11 who have applied:

LifeScape

Children’s Care Hospital and School, doing business as LifeScape, provides a broad range of services, support and expertise for children and youth with disabilities, including helping them find work in the community.

Support for the organization helps educate youth, equip classrooms, teach employment skills, train and connect employers, and place individuals into jobs in the community.

Embe

Embe, or Empowering You To Be, offers programs for women, their families and the entire community. The nonprofit advocates for awareness on important issues through events and programs, and works to reinforce the leadership and wellbeing of women.

The nonprofit also offers childcare services, as well as before and after school programs, to help children learn, develop personal and social values, exercise reason and make decisions.

Health Connect of South Dakota Inc.

Health Connect at 2011 West 26th Street, across from Grille 26, is a consumer health library and health and safety information clearinghouse.

The nonprofit provides individuals, families and communities with up-to-date information on health and safety challenges, and helps identify resources on a local and national level.

Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls

The center provides experiences and opportunities for people to learn about, celebrate and share the community’s cultural diversity. It offers adult programs such as workforce development and English language classes, community engagement opportunities and interpreting and translation services.

The nonprofit also rents the Coliseum event space for major events and celebrations, such as the recent Two Spirit Wacipi. The center is also responsible for hosting the annual Festival of Cultures at Falls Park.

Project Call-a-Ride

Project Call-a-Ride (CAR) is a nonprofit transportation system providing rides for a diverse population with a variety of needs.

The organization provides no-cost rides to people for medical and health appointments, and partners with organizations like LifeScape to provide transportation for disabled people to life skills activities.

Low-income, senior citizens, minorities, persons with developmental and cognitive disorders can also use Project CAR services.

Sioux Empire Community Theatre

The Sioux Empire Community Theatre, also known as The Premiere Playhouse, provides quality, affordable community theater to area residents at its primary venue, the Orpheum Theater in downtown Sioux Falls.

The nonprofit also provides hands-on learning experiences in the community in all aspects of volunteer-driven theater performance and productions. It also provides youth classes and musical theater summer camps.

Sioux Empire Wheels to Work

Sioux Empire Wheels to Work matches qualifying single-parent families with safe and reliable donated vehicles free of charge. The nonprofit calls donated vehicles “angel cars” since they have a profound, positive impact on the families who receive them.

Donations to the nonprofit go toward “angel repairs” on vehicles belonging to those in need of a one-time car repair up to $500.

Sioux Falls Arts Council

The Sioux Falls Arts Council’s mission is to enrich Sioux Falls culture, economy and opportunity by building a stronger, more vibrant arts community.

The council coordinates the arts and culture community, represents the arts and culture sector, connects people to arts experiences and provides resources to help creatives make performing, visual, literary and musical art.

South Dakota Shakespeare Festival

The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival has produced free Shakespeare in the Park shows in Vermillion since 2012. The festival also offers education and outreach programming through partnerships with local and regional schools and organizations.

The festival invites participation from community members of diverse ages, abilities, socioeconomic status and cultural backgrounds. As many as 1,200 adults and 300 youth are “engaged” in the festival each season throughout southeast South Dakota and beyond.

The Banquet

The Banquet is a feeding ministry that serves 16 warm, nutritious meals per week at two locations: downtown at 900 East 8th Street and on the north end of town at 710 North Marion Road.

The Banquet relies solely on private donations of materials and cash to pay for milk, coffee and juice, as well as food, equipment, staffing and building costs.

Union Gospel Mission

The Union Gospel Mission at 701 East 8th Street offers food, clothing, shelter and spiritual guidance to homeless adults and children in need to meet their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

For more information or to donate to any of these causes, visit acommunitythrives.mightycause.com.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls nonprofits need your help: Give to A Community Thrives