Kids & Family
IAM Strong Foundation's Fall Grant Cycle Begins August 1, 2018
Mental Health Organization in Memory of Westwood Teen to Offer Grants to Organizations That Support Adolescent Mental Health
The Fall Grant Cycle for Westwood’s IAM Strong Foundation will begin on August 1. These grants are for an amount of up to $2000 and are eligible for renewal. Board member (and fellow Patch Poster) Antonia Nedder notes that although the IAM Strong Foundation also has the Spring Grant Cycle which offers grants up to $10,000, the Fall Grant Cycle’s smaller amounts helps more organizations take advantage of the finding. “High schools often use the funding for speakers, or for example the tool we set up at Walpole High School [for emotional and mental health and resources of freshmen].”
The IAM Strong Foundation was founded in 2015 by the family and friends of Isabelle Alexandra Medina (IAM), a Westwood teen who died by suicide on September 6th, 2014. Since its founding, the IAM Strong Foundation has distributed over $100,000 in grants. Its mission statement, as stated on its website, begins “The IAM Strong Foundation works to shatter the stigma associated with teen mental health issues, emphasizing the need to treat mental health issues no differently than physical health issues.” When Nedder was asked what made her get involved, she said “I used to write for newspapers, and I wanted to do something to help [IAM Strong]. I began doing publicity, which I still do.”
“There has been positive feedback from the speakers we have funded, we have seen films we have funded, and there have been some grant renewals.” Said Nedder about grant outcomes. Among these renewals were Hale Reservation’s “...teen workshop entitled “Girl Empowerment,” focusing on wellness themes of positive body image, identity, effective communication, and society and media influences.”
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“Any place in greater Boston and beyond. We have has applications as far away as Pennsylvania and Connecticut. For example, Loomis Chaffee School has started a program for adoptees,” replied Nedder regarding clarification of the geographic boundaries established by “grants applications from Westwood and all surrounding communities will be considered.”
The Fall grant cycle opens on August 1st and will close on October 1st. Grant applications for up to $2000 will be considered, and recipients will be notified on or before November 1st. Grant applications and details about the grant process are available at www.iamstrongfoundation.org. Email grants@iamstrongfoundation.org with any questions or requests for further information.