Philanthropy in Conway, AR

Little Rock, ARK ( May 19, 2010 ) ' Dunbar Garden Project/Arkansas Urban Garden Educational Resources ( AUGER ) has achieved a $10, 000 fundraising goal in order to qualify for an additional $10, 000 grant from the Chamberlin Family Foundation Arkansas Community Foundation ( ARCF ). The Chamberlin family issued the challenge to Dunbar Garden earlier this spring, offering a dollar-for-dollar match for all contributions to the Garden up to $10, 000. The AUGER board was thrilled with this creative challenge, said board member Pratt Remmel, founder of the Dunbar Garden. This wonderful matching grant process goes to show that when we help young people learn to plant seeds and tend gardens, we are also teaching them to plant hope. The fundraising challenge was issued by the Chamberlin family in response to recent budget cuts at the Dunbar Garden that resulted in the layoff of one of the Garden's two teacher/gardeners. In January, Little Rock Parks and Recreation, one of the Garden's primary funding sources, was forced to reduce its support for the garden due to the current difficult financial climate. Now, with the funding generated by the matching grant from the Chamberlin Family Foundation, Dunbar Garden plans to hire an additional staff person to assist the remaining teacher/gardener, according to Remmel. The Dunbar Garden Project is an outdoor garden classroom providing hands-on learning experiences for children at Gibbs International Magnet Elementary School and Dunbar Magnet Middle School. In addition to providing environmental education for children, teens and adults, the two-acre garden also supplies fresh produce to numerous local restaurants, including Boulevard Bread and Lilly's Dim Sum. The Dunbar Garden is a great resource, not only for the students and surrounding neighbors who benefit directly, but also as a model for other schools who want to start gardens of their own, said Shannon Chamberlin of the Chamberlin Family Foundation. We have a treasure here, one that deserves widespread community support and emulation. I'm pleased about the excitement stirred up by folks working to match the grant. It's very satisfying to be part of such an important effort. Arkansas Community Foundation makes grants to improve the quality of life in our state and collaborates with individuals, families and organizations to build local communities through philanthropy. ARCF has more than $125 million in assets and has provided more than $75 million in grants since it began operation in 1976. Contributions to ARCF, its funds and any of its 27 local affiliate offices are fully tax deductible.

March of Dimes Foundation is a charitable organization which prevents birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality through research, community services, education and advocacy. Based in Little Rock, Ark., the foundation carries out grand grounds program to provide continuing education for perinatal health care providers. It also runs a prematurity campaign to raise awareness of the problem of prematurity and to reduce the rate of premature birth. March of Dimes Foundation also awards grants to external organizations across the United States in order to address unmet maternal and infant health needs.

Raindrop Turkish House is a non-profit 501(c)(3), educational, charitable, social and cultural organization founded by Turkish-Americans in Houston in 2000 and now it operates in eight states: Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Next to being a home to Turkish-Americans, Raindrop Turkish House addresses their social and cultural needs and helps them integrate into this multicultural society better. The mission of Raindrop is to introduce Turkish culture into American society and cultivate friendship and promote the understanding of diverse cultures through its unique services to the community, through dialog and cooperation.