DEEP Service Magazine Spring/Summer 2014

POSTGRADUATENEWS VISTA Grant Writing Success Siena AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellow, Rebecca Cleere, helps the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany receive the SEFCU Nonprofit Collaboration Challenge Grant for $10,000. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany has been meeting the needs of local children for over 122 years. We oﬀer 5 after-school programs, 9 universal pre-kindergarten classrooms, and a teen drop-in program – all centrally located within the Albany neighborhoods where kids need us the most. 97% of the children who attend our programs are economically disadvantaged and are seeking a safe place to go during the after-school hours. Serving children ages 4-19, the Boys & Girls Clubs make sure that all attending receive quality programs in the areas of character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; and sports, fitness and recreation. My role as a Siena AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellow is to develop the Club’s capacity to serve out the mission of inspiring and enabling all youth, especially those that need us the most, to realize their full potential as caring, productive, and responsible citizens. My responsibilities in this role include participating in fundraising committees, building collaborative partnerships, and grant writing. I have learned that to be successful in development, you must see all those responsibilities as interrelated and concurrent. I am most proud of helping the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany receive the SEFCU Non-for-Profit Collaboration Challenge Grant for $10,000. This grant epitomizes how connected all aspects of marketing and development are. We were able to develop our relationship with St. Catherine’s Center for Children and create a compelling case for grant funding to allow for several homeless youth that are part of St. Catherine’s program to come, tuition-free, to the Boys & Girls Clubs summer camp. This integrated approach has also enabled me to attain significant grant funding for things like Pediatric CRP/First Aid courses for our program staﬀ, a Drama Club for our Teen program, SAT/ACT study books and hourly tutors, and the expansion of our Healthy Habits fitness and nutrition program. The Siena VISTA Fellows Program supports its members by organizing opportunities that enrich their service year. Take a look at what they have been up to! January “Holistic Health” The VISTA Fellows participated in sessions about nutrition, meditative fitness, and Zumba. February “Capturing Your Story” The VISTA Fellows focused on filming in preparation for the ACE Video Showcase. They participated in sessions about storyboarding, film making, and editing. March/April “VISTA Tool Kit” The VISTA Fellows focused on developing skills like learning how to fundraise and work with donors, manage volunteers, events and projects, and do social media networking. May “Transitioning to PostAmeriCorps*VISTA Life” The VISTA Fellows participated in sessions that prepared them for life after VISTA. They focused on resume building, the graduate school application process, continuing service opportunities, and networking. By Rebecca Cleere, Siena AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellow DEEP Service Magazine | Page 18

DEEP Service Magazine Spring/Summer 2014 | Page 21