SOUTHERN UTAH – Two Southern Utah-based nonprofits that aid victims of domestic violence and sexual assault were among the recipients of $402,000 in grants from the Daniels Fund. In Southern Utah, grants were given to the Canyon Creek Women’s Center in Cedar City and Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation in St. George.
“The Daniels Fund has supported us for a long time,” said Michele Poast, the Foundation’s executive director. Three years ago the Fund gave the Foundation a grant that helped in the building of additional transitional housing.
Transitional housing is a place where individuals who have experienced domestic violence can stay after fleeing an abusive environment. Poast said the people who go to the Foundation for help have often left everything they owned behind them.
Organizations like the Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation are able to supply survivors of abuse with transitional housing, along with additional services that help establish a support system and self-sufficiency. Money supplied by the Daniels Fund helps cover a percentage of a client’s rent, as well as the costs of associated programs.
Because the Foundation has had available housing, the Canyon Creek Woman’s Crisis Center in Cedar City has referred individuals to their facility.
“We’ve had a gap in services,” said Cindy Baldwin, executive director of crisis center. While the Center provides services similar to the Foundation, she said there had been a lack of housing.
“We had to refer clients to the Erin Kimball Foundation in St. George (for housing),” Baldwin said. A disadvantage of that situation meant that clients would be leaving a support group they had previously established.
Thanks to grants from the Daniels Fund, the Center will be able to provide additional housing to their clients in Cedar City. “We’re really excited about it,” Baldwin said.
Having housing and a support system is important, Baldwin added, as women who are unable to acquire either may ultimately return to the abusive environment they originally left behind.
The Fund
“Many of our neighbors are struggling out there and these organizations have a proven record of success in helping people rise above whatever challenges they face,” said Linda Childers, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “We are honored to support their efforts to make life better in communities across the state.”
The Daniels Fund will award a projected $1.6 million in grants to Utah nonprofits in 2012. Funding areas include: aging, alcoholism and substance abuse, amateur sports, disabilities, early childhood education, K-12 education reform, ethics and integrity in education, homeless and disadvantages, and youth development.
Other recent recipients of the Daniels Fund include: Murray Youth Basketball, the TriCounty Health Department, Utah Food Bank, and Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Ogden.
The Daniels Fund also provides grant and scholarship programs in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
The need is constant
Though grants from entities like the Daniels Fund are beneficial the Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation and Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center, the call need support remains.
“We do need continued support for this program,” Baldwin said. Donations of time, resources and finances are continually needed.
Information concerning donations and volunteer opportunities can be found on the websites of both organizations.
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Copyright 2012 St. George News.