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Brick & Beam Society Announces $51,400 Investment in Two Community Programs
At its inaugural annual meeting on February 13th, United Way of Greater Portland’s Brick & Beam Society announced $51,400 of investments in community programs working to ensure that every child has quality early learning experiences beginning at birth and advance Thrive2027.
Mayo Street Arts, Summer Programs for Community & Youth: $26,400
The Brick & Beam Society’s $26,400 investment in Mayo Street Arts provides programmatic support to continue expanded Summer Programs for Youth, including the morning tutoring program taught by East End Community School staff, the RAD (Reading, Arts, Dance) program taught by Mayo Street Arts staff and visiting artists, and the free lunch program provided by the Opportunity Alliance.
Youth and Family Outreach, Families Matter Program: $25,000
The Brick & Beam Society’s $25,000 investment in Youth and Family Outreach’s Families Matter Program focuses on creating building blocks that families can use to create habits of eating healthy meals together. The program will educate families on how to prepare meals, shop and cook on a budget.
The pair of investments were the result of a year of work by the Brick & Beam Impact Investment Committee (IIC), culminating in the second annual Community Night in fall 2017, where funding applicants presented to the Brick & Beam Society membership and the community at large. Brick & Beam Society investments are funded through member donations and decided on by member volunteers. IIC volunteers are dedicated to investing in work that is holistic, with opportunities to invest not just dollars, but valuable time and expertise.
The Brick & Beam Society awarded $50,000 at their fall 2016 Community Night and has funded a round of investments to curb summer learning loss in each of the last two summers. They also host frequent in-kind donation drives, including next month’s 3rd Annual Bring Your Own Book Event. The event, which is open to the public, collects books for local elementary schools.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]