It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention. No one understands this better than providers of services for mothers and their children who are homeless.

In this spirit, HCEF provides Mini-grants for Educational Innovation to address the educational needs of the children our partner housing agencies serve.

Since its inception, the Board of Trustees of the Homeless Children's Education Fund has been aggressively growing an Endowment Fund.

Now worth over $400,000, this fund finances innovative educational opportunities for children residing in Allegheny County's homeless centers – opportunities that point them toward a brighter future.

And every year since 2002, agency staff members have prepared and submitted proposals for HCEF mini-grants that will make possible sound educational programming and materials specific to the children they serve.

Monies are also made available to assist with transportation costs for approved Educational Field Trips. $300 field trip grants were awarded to nine facilities for Summer 2008, and beginning in 2008 the same-sized grants are being awarded to support such field trips from October through April.

The 2008-09 mini-grants of up to $2000 each were distributed August 8. In 2007 the Trustees disbursed $22,849 in Round VI mini-grants to fourteen Pittsburgh and Allegheny County organizations. This year $27,523 has been disbursed to fifteen organizations.

Round VII Mini-grant award recipients are:

Allegheny Valley Association of Churches, $2,000, for camping equipment, reference tools, and photographic materials to enhance experience of outdoor education and adventure.

Alle-Kiske Area Hope Transitional, $943.80, for a parenting curriculum, arts/craft supplies, educational charts with CDs and a portable CD player, Scholastic learning materials.

Bridge to Independence, $2,000, for flash drives for students' homework, child-friendly digital camera, preschool software and games, reading program materials.

Crisis Center North,$2,000, to build a resource room with computers and HCEF-related software for the use of both children and mothers.

Healthy Start House, $2,000, to purchase a Healthy Living curriculum that is an add-on to its overall Healthy Living materials

HEARTH, $1,750, to enhance computer and academic skills, physical fitness, and creativity.

Open Arms, $2,000, for supplies and training to sustain existing and future programming.

The Salvation Army Family Crisis Center, $2,000, for materials to enhance reading levels, music appreciation, counting skills, math concepts, and social/interactive skills.

Sisters Place, $2,000, to fund 8 art workshops through the Society for Contemporary Craft and encourage interest in various art forms.

Sojourner House, $1,829.08, to create a listening center for music, stories, and foreign language study.

Three Rivers Youth – The Hub, $2,000, to purchase educational software, videos, and DVD's to enhance the independent living skills of homeless youth 18-21 yrs old.

Womanspace East, $2,000, to create a reading area in the Learning Center, purchase audio and DVD books for alternative ways to create interest in reading.

Womansplace, Inc., $2,000, for art workshops through the Society for Contemporary Craft, story-telling with Mother Goose, and materials for child therapy sessions.

Woman's Center and Shelter, $2,000, for dance workshops, theater games, storytelling, and music activities for children and moms as a way to counteract the risk factors of domestic violence.

YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh, $1,000, to purchase positive parenting/engagement DVDs to use during home visits and books/arts and crafts to assist in responding to emotional trauma.

Altogether from 2002 through 2008, HCEF has awarded $122,823 in mini-grants.

Updated 8/8/08