Voices for America’s Children awards $400,000 to state and local children’s groups

Washington – Voices for America’s Children, the nation’s largest network of multi-issue child advocacy organizations, today announced it will award $400,000 to 22 of its 62 members for child advocacy projects and capacity-building.

The grants will support efforts to fully implement health care reform legislation; “advocacy 2.0” projects to harness new media trends and technology for child well-being; reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; hunger and obesity reduction efforts; and other policy projects to improve the lives of children and youth.

“One thing that’s exciting about Voices is the collaboration and capacity-building child advocates can achieve together in a network,” said Bill Bentley, president and CEO of Voices for America’s Children. “We are so pleased we can provide these resources to Voices members. Hopefully, additional funds can be secured and made available later this year.”

The awards were made competitively, with an independent panel reviewing applications. Voices received 32 proposals from 41 members, totaling close to $1.3 million in requested funding. Sixteen groups/collaborations will receive substantial funding for their initiatives, with another six getting $5,000.

“I only wish we had the resources to fund all the requests,” said Bentley. “The work funded here comes at such an important time, as children, youth and their families are all under attack in state legislatures and in Washington.”

Awardees:

New Mexico Voices for Children: $30,000

Voices for Ohio’s Children: $30,000

Children’s Alliance (WA): $30,000

Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children and Public Citizens for Children & Youth (PA): $40,000

Wisconsin Council of Children and Families: $20,000

Child and Family Policy Center (IA): $20,000

Voices for Georgia’s Children: $20,000

Voices for Illinois Children: $20,000

Colorado Children’s Campaign: $20,000

Kentucky Youth Advocates: $20,000

Action for Children of North Carolina: $20,000

South Dakota Voices for Children: $17,500

Michigan’s Children: $17,500

Children’s Advocacy Institute (CA): $15,000

Texans Care for Children: $15,000

Combined proposal by 13 members for Educating America’s Kids First town hall meetings: $65,000

• Children’s Action Alliance (AZ)
• Colorado Children’s Campaign
• Children’s Campaign, Inc. (FL)
• Voices for Georgia’s Children
• Voices for Illinois Children
• Child & Family Policy Center (IA)
• Voices for Michigan’s Children
• Advocates for Children of New Jersey
• Westchester Children’s Association (NY)
• Action for Children North Carolina (NC)
• Voices for Ohio’s Children
• The Children’s Trust of South Carolina
• Voices for Virginia’s Children

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As the nation’s largest network of multi-issue child advocacy organizations, Voices for America’s Children (Voices) has been on the forefront of every major child policy victory for the past quarter-century. With 62 members nationwide, Voices speaks up for kids, and mobilizes and advocates for public policies to improve the lives of all children, especially those most vulnerable, throughout the United States. Visit us at www.voices.org.

Voices is a founding member of the Children’s Leadership Council, a coalition of more than 50 leading national policy and advocacy organizations. www.childrensleadershipcouncil.com.