The Junior League of McAllen, Inc.

GRANTS

Funds are granted annually through the Community Assistance Fund to respond to the immediate needs of local non-profit agencies.
  Funds are granted annually through the Educational Enhancement Fund to support a wide variety of educational experiences 
for local children including camps, educational trips, and conferences.  
The Aid for Better Classrooms Grant (ABC Grant) is awarded each year to up to twelve teachers within McAllen ISD 
and at McAllen Private Schools in order to encourage innovative educational projects within their classrooms.

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FUND & EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT FUND
RECIPIENTS 2009-2010

$1,800 to the Mission Service Project
These funds provide housing repairs to local low-income families and facilitate life changing experiences for the youths who complete the work.  Mission Service Project, through the help of volunteers and cash donations, has grown from being able to rehabilitate 9 homes in 1982 to being able to repair 20 to 22 in 2009.  This year, many of the homes belong to families that were affected by Hurricane Dolly.  The organization was awarded the Presidential Point of Light in 1990.  The projects that the organization undertakes are first and foremost a ministry of love; the youths experience a model for volunteering in their communities and sharing their talents which leads them to be generous and caring adults in the future.  

$1,500 to Rio Grande Children's Home
These funds will buy school supplies for the 2009/2010 school year for the children served by the Rio Grande Children's Home.  For more than 41 years, this organization has cared for children displaced from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.  There are currently 36 children from the surrounding community living at Rio Grande Children's Home and ranging in age from 0 to 17 years of age.  Children are placed at the home on a temporary basis that may last as little as 3 weeks or as much as 18 years.  The Rio Grande Children's Home is committed to promoting self worth, protecting children, and  encouraging strong families.

$1,250 to Palmer Drug Abuse Program
These funds sponsor 6 students and 1 teacher mentor to attend the 19th Annual South Texas Drug Free Youth Leadership Conference.   Every summer, Palmer Drug Abuse Program in conjunction with 50 local school districts and the Drug Enforcement Agency, prepares approximately 300 middle school and high school student leaders to work with at-risk students in their communities.  The conference provides these student leaders with the opportunity to learn how to take a leadership role in preventing violence, tobacco, alcohol and other drug use in their schools and communities.   Motivational speakers and youth issue consultants share their knowledge and enthusiasm on topics such as alcohol and drug prevention, bullying, decision making, self esteem, internet safety and capable leadership.   The goal of the conference is to encourage all youth to celebrate a life drug free.

$1,200 to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
These funds enable Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to create a space in their waiting room area for their client’s children.  Approximately 70 clients visit the Edinburg office on a weekly basis, many of which
are indigent victims of domestic violence who bring their children to legal appointments because they cannot afford childcare.  The process of obtaining a protective order, securing child custody, or getting a divorce from an abusive spouse is an extremely traumatic ordeal and these sensitive issues should not be discussed in front of client’s children.  In order to make this difficult experience more accommodating for both parents and children, TRLA is creating a space where children can wait while their parents receive legal assistance.  TRLA is adding toys, activities, a children’s table and chairs, books, bookshelves, and other furnishing that will create a safe and fun environment for children to play while their parent meets with the attorney.

COMMUNITY RESEARCH FUND
RECIPIENTS 2009-2010

$1,637 to the Museum of South Texas History
The Museum of South Texas History has a new educational offering, a puppet theater designed to be able to travel to schools!  These funds will sponsor 21 historically themed performances - one at each elementary campus in the McAllen ISD.  The main purpose of the project is to create a vehicle by which to engage, enchant, and educate children about museums and their purpose, what the children might expect to see and experience when they visit the Museum of South Texas History, and introduce them to facets of our region's colorful history.  The presentations will be to third graders to prepare them for a visit to the museum when they become fourth graders.  The presentation will also include an activity book for each child designed to reinforce their theater experience.  This project will impact approximately 2,000 children in McAllen.

$1,500 to Buckner Rio Grande Children's Home
These funds will sponsor a wellness program which provides sports equipment as well as nutritional development for the children at the home.  Since 1963, the Rio Grande Children’s Home in Mission has provided the best in residential care to children who need love, care, and a homelike setting due to neglect or abuse.

$550 to Su Casa de Esperanza
These funds will provide books for Su Casa de Esperanza's Introduction to Reading program which serves children ages 9 months to 3 years in the Toddler Program. Children at this age are able to absorb new ideas, learn a language, and absorb new material.  The children in the program are be exposed to large print books and programs encouraging reading and comprehension.  "During this period it is easier for a child to learn any type of language including spoken, receptive, foreign and written language. The earlier the child is taught to read the better they will read and the more likely they will enjoy it." - Dr. Titzer, Your Baby Can Read

ABC GRANTS
 2008 RECIPIENTS

FUNDING PROPOSAL

The Junior League of McAllen, Inc. has limited funds available 
for local non-profit organizations.  If your organization would benefit 
from this funding, please complete the following Funding Proposal.
We are interested in partnering with local non-profit organizations 
to create unique, ongoing projects that touch the lives 
of youth in our community and provide our members with volunteer opportunities.