CFMC Impact Report September 2021

Dear Community Friends and Non-Profits,

Morgan County teachers, counselors, social workers, youth organizations and others will tell you the number of our children experiencing trauma continues to rise each year. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, neglect, domestic violence, mental illness, addiction, and more have been identified in our schools as children struggle to cope and learn.

“Many of our kids in school haven’t learned how to effectively cope with challenges such as receiving a bad grade, criticism from their peers, or changes in their home life. As a result, they’re either getting angry or having a meltdown in the classroom and when they come to see me, some of them want to crawl under my desk or table to escape the stress they’re feeling,” said Niki Walls, a Youth First Social Worker at Bell Intermediate Academy in Martinsville. “If they can’t learn to cope at this age, what’s going to happen when they’re adults and they have a melt down or worse?”

That’s why the Community Foundation of Morgan County (CFMC) is working with educators, school psychologists, community leaders and others to provide the necessary training, manpower and additional resources to ensure our kids receive the help they need. With everyone’s support, these students can work towards becoming healthier and productive adults in our communities.

“Everyone asks me what’s the biggest issue I handle with these students. I would honestly say the root of it stems from their lack of self-esteem. Many of them, unfortunately, hate themselves,” added Walls. “I challenged one student to write four positive things about them self and they really struggled in completing the task.”

The Community Foundation of Morgan County (CFMC) is taking a different 2021 grantmaking approach by prioritizing K-12 mental health. Many philanthropic organizations providing grant dollars are also prioritizing key community needs in response to growing needs. CFMC is focused on creating dynamic impact, providing guidance for sustainability, and finding solutions to end cycles of poverty. CFMC opened the IMPACT Grant Cycle for 2021 with new guidelines.

Children experiencing mental health issues have risen due to the pandemic in our schools. Partnering with our community through private and corporate philanthropy makes these real solutions possible. The youth of today are Morgan County’s future leaders, they deserve to be prioritized.

These annual IMPACT Grants are funded by donations from generous businesses and community members. The best way to get involved in our community is to give! Partner with us at CFMC by donating to IMPACT Grants which provide programs and services to help troubled youth; improve educational programs; address mental health issues; help people break the cycle of poverty; and so much more. 100% of every donated dollar goes back into our community and CFMC will match it $2 for $1! Anyone can donate at any time! Every dollar counts and when you give each month to help fund these programs and services, lives are being changed for the long-term. We call it Philanthropy with Measurable Impact.
In this together,

Sincerely,

President and CEO
Community Foundation of Morgan County