Participation in A Community Thrives grant program nearly doubles

Logan Washburn, Nashville Tennessean
·3 min read
In 2019, Girls Write Nashville, a nonprofit that empowers Nashville youth through mentorship, songwriting, production and artistic community, received a $50,000 grant from A Community Thrives.
In 2019, Girls Write Nashville, a nonprofit that empowers Nashville youth through mentorship, songwriting, production and artistic community, received a $50,000 grant from A Community Thrives.

Editor's note: Those who wish to support the program can donate to their favorite groups through MightyCause.

Gannett nearly doubled the number of Middle Tennessee organizations participating in the latest edition of A Community Thrives, a national grant program.

A Community Thrives is a crowdfunding and grant program in which groups compete to raise $3,000 or $6,000, depending on their operating budgets, to qualify as a grant recipient by August 12.

Groups keep the funds they raise, and top fundraisers qualify for a total of $200,000 in additional grants.

Gannett, the parent company of The Tennessean and USA Today, established this program in 2017 through The Gannett Foundation.

The Gannett Foundation selected 24 organizations and nonprofits from the area to participate in its 2022 program, while 13 local groups participated in 2021.

Here's a look at some of the 2022 organizations.

Nashville

The Nashville Civic Design Center is a nonprofit that works to create sustainable, livable growth.

"Our job is to elevate the voice of the community," design director Eric Hoke said, "To pick up on hot topics as it relates to the built environment and then show people what can exist."

Transformations by Nashville Angels provides consistent support to youth and families involved in foster care through giving, relationships and mentorships.

The Oasis Center offers crisis intervention, youth leadership, community engagement, and college and career programs to youth and their families.

API Middle Tennessee advocates racial justice for Asian and Pacific Islanders by "building API community, lifting API voices, and unpacking API identities."

Small World Yoga seeks to "empower those we serve to grow and to live more fulfilling lives through yoga."

Book 'em provides books to children and uses volunteers to increase literacy, with hopes they can ignite a child's passion for reading. The group said it distributed more than 190,000 books in 2021, according to its website.

Moves and Grooves aims to improve academic achievement for children through creative arts. Another goal: to create a 12,000-square-foot Center for the Arts.

Gallatin

Gallatin Cares is a Christian nonprofit that operates a thrift store, offers a food pantry and maintains a Shelter Protection Benevolence Fund.

The Recovery Court of Sumner County uses a multifaceted approach to help individuals addicted to drugs and alcohol recover and become "responsible citizens."

Columbia

431 Ministries is a Christian group that helps "overlooked and underserved women" in the region find safety and stability.

Maury Chaplain Ministries advocates for inmates' rights, acts as a liaison between different parts of the community and provides pastoral care to inmates, their families and corrections officials.

Legacy Life Care Programs provides educational training, refers participants to counseling, and provides in-home care.

Georgia English, left, and Jen Starsinic founded local nonprofit Girls Write Nashville three years ago. This year, they received a $50,000 grant from A Community Thrives, a program from the USA TODAY Network that is part of the Gannett Foundation.
Georgia English, left, and Jen Starsinic founded local nonprofit Girls Write Nashville three years ago. This year, they received a $50,000 grant from A Community Thrives, a program from the USA TODAY Network that is part of the Gannett Foundation.

More local groups and nonprofits

Freedom Reigns Ranch is a Christian nonprofit in Thompson's Station. The organization offers free "equine-assisted mentorships" to youth who struggle with trauma.

The Cheatham County School District in Ashland City covers 13 schools, where it hopes to make students "lifelong learners."

The Building Lives Foundation in Franklin helps veterans in need with affordable housing, furnishings, guidance counseling and job assistance.

Habitat for Humanity branches — Montgomery, Williamson and Maury counties — joined the program. Habitat for Humanity aims to "build affordable homes, stronger communities, and life-changing opportunities."

Shred the Stress in Clarksville works to relieve veterans' anxiety and trauma through the use of electric riding vehicles such as scooters, OneWheels and skateboards.

The Mt. Pleasant/Maury Museum of Local History collects, preserves, and displays the history of the former phosphate mining community.

The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge operates three clinics and provides free medical care for low-income and uninsured individuals.

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center in Hendersonville collects and exhibits local and regional art.

Arts Inside, located in Tracy City , provides healing for inmates and their families through art.

Other nonprofits participating in the program include Covenant Cupboard in Madison, Investing Into The Future in La Vergne, and Stepping Stones of Robertson County in Springfield.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gannett nearly doubles number of Middle TN groups in grant program