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In addition to its grantmaking, the Foundation regularly makes contributions to assist organizations in emergency situations. 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 Project Swing Team Builds a Dream PlaygroundOver 900 residents live at Pine Ridge Apartment Complex, a low-income housing community in Phoenix, Arizona. 400 of those residents are under the age of 15, and grow up in the community with little to do.
"As we worked with the girls through the scouting program, it was obvious that we needed to do something much bigger for all of the kids living in the community. We had girls of all ages coming to our program, and the little boys would just hang in the door way of the community center asking if we could play with them too. We needed to do something on a much larger scale for these kids."
The Venture Club of Phoenix members contacted Americans Helping Americans (AHA), the non-profit who operated the programs for the Pine Ridge Community about the opportunity. AHA's Executive Director, Lynn Thomas, partnered with Beth Stiner, of the Venture Club of Phoenix to co-write the grant for a playground at Pine Ridge. The grassroots effort, organized by a 6 person team, was called Project SWING (which stands for a Sensational Way to Impact a Neighborhood for Generations). By July 2005, Project SWING team members had been awarded the challenge grant and now had eight weeks to raise the $30,000 required for the grant and the playground. Design Day was held, and the children imagined the playground of their dreams, and it was captured on paper. The Build Day was scheduled for November 19, 2005. And the members of Project SWING moved forward charged and motivated, despite the fact that the most Venture Club had ever raised in one year was $6,000! Throughout the eight weeks of fundraising, the stars aligned and funds emerged. One such opportunity occurred when Project SWING co-chair Beth Stiner participated in the annual summer retreat co-sponsored by SEF, in late July. As part of the weekend, entitled " Illuminating Our Core to Sustain A Lifetime of Service", Beth had an opportunity to discuss Project SWING with two retreat participants (and organizers), Haru Inouye and Liane Louie of the Shinnyo-en Foundation. Both were enthused and supportive of the project in Phoenix and offered their support in making it happen. After the retreat, Beth submitted a summary of the project plans to Haru and Liane, and a $1,000 donation from the Shinnyo-en Foundation was awarded to the Project SWING effort, making us one step closer to making this dream a reality. Through continued hard work and much dedication, they were able to raise $30,000 and on November 19, 2005 over 180 volunteers came out to build the playground at Pine Ridge. While the adults built, children were entertained by clowns, face painters and balloon artists. Many looked on from their apartment windows, and between the safety fence, as the playground took shape. Within six hours, the playground was complete. The closing ceremony concluded with the breaking of paper chains constructed by the kids throughout the day. The toughest part of the whole process may have been the 48 hours the children had to wait as the cement cured, before they could test out their new playground. That time has now passed, and they are proud to report that there are so many kids enjoying their new playground, that is often difficult to actually make out what they are playing on! Way to go team! Keep up the good work. 2005Keala Pono Indigenous College –Haskett Indian National
University Youth Community Service - 2005 Summer Program $2,000 Soul in Education - 2005 Conference $2,000 Foundation for Global Community - Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group $2,500 Pathways to Peace $2,500 Maiden Voyage Productions - Just The Same But Different Project $2,500 Deep Streams Institute - Community Learning Initiative $1,000 Vision Youthz - Community Learning Initiative $1,000 Huckleberry House Youth Program - Community Learning Initiative $1,000 University of Hawaii - Social Work Leadership Project $2,500 Venture Club of Phoenix - Project Swing $1,000 Youth Empowering Systems - Sydney Banks Conference $2,000 Vision Youthz $1,000 Volunteer Resource Center of Hawaii - Certificate of Volunteer Management Program $2,500
2004Institute for Global Ethics Youth Service California Transformation Through Education Speak to Children Mission Dignity Spirit in Action Destiny Arts Center Youth Community Service Burlingame Community for Education Foundation Shinnyo-en USA Youth Association Japanese Community Youth Council Beyond Borders Kimochi, Inc. American Indian Child Resource Communities In Schools – A Program of the YMCA Pathways to Peace – We the People Initiative Website Global Leadership Network Burlingame Community for Education Foundation City of Burien Parks Services Transformation through Education Spirit In Action – Youth Circles Volunteer Resource Center of Hawaii – Scholarships Japanese Community Youth Council – Leadership Program White Plains Youth Bureau CARD of San Mateo County Graduate Theological Union Destiny Arts Center 2003Youth Service California Burlingame Historical Society San Francisco Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund Youth Service California 2002American Red Cross Burlingame Community for Education Foundation Japanese Newcomer Service Nobiru-kai The Volunteerism Project 2001American Red Cross American Red Cross Association of Moral Education Japanese Newcomer Services (Nobiru-Kai) Season of Sharing The Foundation Center 2000Burlingame Community for Education Foundation$1,000 - To support this nonprofit organization that aims to enhance the educational opportunities of all children in the Burlingame School District by raising funds for specialist-taught programs. Burlingame Library Foundation Every Child Can Learn Foundation The Foundation Center Japanese Newcomer Services / Nobiru-Kai, Inc. Season of Sharing Fund 1999American Red Cross$2,500 - To support earthquake relief efforts that contribute supplies and teams of trained disaster and health specialists to provide essential humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey. The Foundation Center Linking San Francisco Season of Sharing Fund |
"There are a lot of kids at Pine Ridge looking for attention, and there isn't a lot to do. The closest playground is over a mile away." said Beth Stiner, a member of a club called Venture Club of Phoenix. For the past three years, members of the Venture Club, a women's community service organization, have organized a Girl Scout Troop for girls ages 3-15 at Pine Ridge. 
In June 2005, the Venture Club members found the opportunity they had been looking for. A non-profit called KaBOOM! partnered with Home Depot to offer $5,000 challenge grants to communities interested in building safe places for children to play. KaBOOM! would offer training and technical assistance to its grantees, who had to commit to raising a minimum of $20,000 and recruiting 200+ volunteers to build a playground within 6 months of the grant.
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