Princeton Area Community Foundation, the community foundation serving
central New Jersey, has awarded $460,000 in competitive grants to local
nonprofit organizations that build social capital and provide
opportunities to low-income individuals and families.

The grants, supporting organizations that create shared will and
networks to tackle community problems, target greater Mercer County
through the “Greater Mercer Grants,” the Community Foundation’s
signature program.

The grants are as follows:

Supporting Low-Income Individuals and Families

CASA of Mercer County – $25,000 for “Fostering Futures” helping youth
aging out of the child welfare system through preparation and planning
for emancipation.

HiTOPS – $25,000 for sexual health risk reduction programs for youth who
live in residential facilities and secure sites.

The Intersect Fund – $25,000 for microenterprise development in East
Trenton where they will develop entrepreneurs and potentially increase
employment.

NAMI Mercer – $20,000 to give parents, teachers and counselors tools to
recognize early warning signs of mental illness in middle school
students, a population that is underserved, and where early intervention
can make a lifelong difference.

New Jersey Agricultural Society – $20,000 for the Farmers Against Hunger
program, which collects excess fruits and vegetables from New Jersey’s
farms and delivers to organizations dedicated to feeding people
Progressive Center for Independent Living – $25,000 to empower people
with disabilities to provide for their own safety by learning how to put
together a disaster plan for themselves and make sure it is followed by
their caregivers and emergency personnel.

Rescue Mission of Trenton – $20,000 for the basic necessities of food,
shelter and clothing for the citizens of Mercer County who are in the
greatest need.

UIH Family Partners – $25,000 for “A Health-ing Hand,” a program focused
on helping men make positive changes in their health practices.

Urban Promise Trenton – $25,000 for after school and summer programs in
the West Ward focused on homework and academic achievement with an
emphasis on long term involvement and leadership development.

Building Social Capital

Artworks Trenton – $35,000 for Building Community Through Arts & Culture

CityWorks – $40,000 for the East Trenton Collaborative, a partnership of
organizations working together to permanently improve a city
neighborhood.

Isles, Inc. – $50,000 for predevelopment work on the Mill One Nonprofit
Center.

Trenton Area Stakeholders (Mill Hill Child & Family Development Center
as fiscal sponsor) – $25,000 to help bring leaders in the social service
sector together to discuss mutual concerns and opportunities for
collaboration.

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos – $25,000 for the Crossing Borders With
Literature Project.

VolunteerConnect – $25,000 for enhancing the capacity of nonprofit
organizations through effective volunteerism.

Unrestricted Support

Homefront – $15,000

Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County – $25,000

PEI Kids – $25,000

YMCA Trenton – $10,000

The Community Foundation collaborates with the Harbourton Foundation,
NRG Energy, and charitable funds established at the Foundation by
individuals and families to support this signature program, including:
Tristan Beplat Fund, Blair Family Fund, Charles L. and Ann Lee Brown
Fund, James E. & Diane W. Burke Fund, Judith and William Burks Fund,
Jane M. Campbell Fund, Esther Y. Eure Fund, Archer & Thomas Harvey Fund,
Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Fund, Kuser Arts Fund, LVC Fund, Princeton Youth
Fund, Leroy E. “Brick” Purvis Charitable Fund, Barbara B. Smoyer
Memorial Fund, Marjorie R. Smoyer Fund, Stanley C. Smoyer Fund, Speir
Fund, Frank E. Taplin Jr. Fund, Weymar Fund, Whitehead Fund, Willy N.
Fund; and advised funds including: Jim and Jean Davidson Fund, Norman
and Nancy Klath Fund, McAlpin Fund, Russo Philanthropic Fund, Thomas
Fund, Reichelderfer-Blair Fund, and the Myra and Van Zandt Williams Jr.
Fund.

For information on establishing a fund, or participating as a supporter
of Greater Mercer Grants in future funding cycles, please visit
www.pacf.org/give.