The full list of GBU Foundation charitable donors from June–December 2025 is available here. We sincerely thank our donors for their generosity; this link reflects the complete donor listing for the Winter edition of The Reporter.
Thank You for Voting for Your Favorite Finalists!
The results are in.
Congratulations to our 2026 GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners!
$100,000 in grants will be awarded to forty-one organizations across the county!
And the Community Grant Award winners are:
Winners of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 grants are listed alphabetically. Their public vote standings and grant awards will be announced at the GBU Foundation Community Grant Awards Night on April 9, 2026.
| Wellness | Education | Charitable Giving | Hometown Hero Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Diabetes Association, Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA) | Angels’ Place, Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA) | Animal Friends, Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA) | Gary Sinise Foundation (Franklin, TN) |
| Cook Children’s Health Foundation (Fort Worth, TX) | Girls Inc. of Greater Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) | Mercer County Food Bank (Sharon, PA) | Tails of Valor®, Paws of Honor, Inc (Coopersburg, PA) |
| Sheep Inc. Health Care Center (Pittsburgh, PA) | MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) (Irving, TX) | SafeNet Domestic Violence Safety Network (Erie, PA) | YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Veterans Wellness Program (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Congratulations, and thank you voters, for supporting your favorite finalists! |
Special Awards:
| Community Builder Award – $10,000 | Kettering Children’s Choir (Dayton, OH) |
| Corporate-Sponsored Grants | |
| Jalinski Advisory Group Community Grant Award ($2,000) | Toms River Little League (Toms River, NJ) |
| Parkway Advisors Community Grant Award ($2,000) | Cook Children’s Health Foundation (Fort Worth, TX) |
| Donor’s Choice Community Grant Award ($500) | Knollwood Community / Army Distaff Foundation (Washington, DC) |
| North Shore Pools Community Grant Award ($500) | Trade Institute of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| GBU Employees’ Choice Awards – $500 |
| American Diabetes Association, Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Better Together Foundation (Valencia, PA) |
| Drop the Puck on Cancer (Duttine-Cavataio Fund) (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| The Education Partnership (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) (Irving, TX) |
| Future FUNders Awards – $500 |
| Breakthrough T1D Western PA and West Virginia Chapter (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Fix ‘Ur Cat (Washington, PA) |
| Little Lake Theatre Company (Canonsburg, PA) |
| Mittens for Detroit (Berkley, MI) |
| GBU Foundation Special Recognition Awards – $500 |
| (These awards acknowledge organizations that participated as GBU Foundation Community Grant and GBU Foundation Community Builder Award finalists in the public-voting campaign.) |
| Adventures in Training with A Purpose (Wexford, PA) |
| Always B Smiling (McMurray, PA) |
| Best Buddies in Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Blackburn Center (Greensburg, PA) |
| Compassionate Connections Center (Clintonville, WI) |
| Exchange Club Center for Family Unity (Owatonna, MN) |
| Family House (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Fleece & Thank You (Farmington Hills, MI) |
| The James DeAngelo Foundation (McMurray, PA) |
| Knollwood Community / Army Distaff Foundation (Washington, DC) |
| Little Lambs of Evansville (Evansville, IN) |
| NeuroBalance Center NFP |
| Operation Outfit (Northwood, OH) |
| Orchardview Stables (Wexford, PA) |
| Outdoor Odyssey (Boswell, PA) |
| Pennsylvania Elks Major Projects, Inc. (Somerset, PA) |
| Stella Maris, Inc. (Timonium, MD) |
| Toms River Little League (Toms River, NJ) |
| Trade Institute of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Vilas County Economic Development Corporation (Eagle River, WI) |
| Warrick Literacy and Educational Connections (Newburgh, IN) |
Thank you to our corporate partners for supporting the Community Grant Awards program.
Presenting Sponsor
Leadership Sponsor
Leadership Sponsor
Mission Sponsor
Mission Sponsor
Impact Sponsor
Impact Sponsor
Impact Sponsor
Impact Sponsor
Impact Sponsor
Engagement Sponsor
Engagement Sponsor
Changemaker Sponsor
The Open Door Pantry, Eagen, MN
2025 Community Grant Award Winner, Charitable Giving
Your Impact: Community Grant Stories
Listen to Current Interest Podcasts with Recent Grant Recipients
Donate to GBU Foundation now to add your photo to our GBU Life Community Mosaic.
Help us build a photo mosaic that embodies the spirit of GBU. Your photo can become a part of this art when you donate $25 or more to the GBU Foundation. Add a photo to remember or honor a loved one, celebrate a special occasion or commemorate your contribution to this project. When the mosaic is complete, you will have the opportunity to receive a digital copy or print.
GBU Foundation: 60 Years of Scholarships and Counting!
GBU Foundation: 60 Years of Scholarships and Counting!
In 2025, the Foundation awarded $226,000 in scholarships and grants to 215 members pursuing two-year, four-year, and graduate programs. This brought our total support to over $3 million since the Foundation was established. Meet our 2025 GBU Foundation scholars here.
Since 1963, GBU Foundation has awarded
Scholarships and educational grants
4,502
Total
$3,204,650
GBU Foundation was founded in 1963 to encourage and assist members in furthering their education through its scholarship program. In honor of its 60th anniversary, we are celebrating GBU Foundation Scholarship and Grant recipients’ achievements.
If you are a GBU Foundation Scholarship or Grant recipient and would like to update us on your career, please fill out our online form. We will publish your information in the “Where Are They Now” posts in The Reporter and social media throughout 2024. Complete the form.
Celebrating 60 years of GBU Foundation Scholars
Where Are They Now?
Celine van Breukelen
Anchorage, AK
Hydrologist, National Weather Service
DISTRICT 815 – DAYTON, OH
GBU Foundation Freshman Scholarship 2003–2006
Ohio State University, B.S., Industrial and Systems Engineering
About my GBU Foundation Scholarship:
“The scholarship allowed me a little more financial freedom to explore. Due to my ability to travel, I was able to visit Alaska, which I now call home.”
Since I graduated:
“In part due to my GBU Foundation scholarship, I was able to graduate undergrad without debt. This allowed me the freedom to explore. I had the opportunity to do something completely different by attending Graduate School at the University of Alaska studying civil engineering. This flexibility allowed me to have a career about which I am passionate. I get to help people in a place that I love.”
Where Are They Now?
Presley Dougherty
Mount Airy, MD
Graduate Student
DISTRICT 291 – SUMMERHILL-LILLY, PA
GBU Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship 2020-2022
GBU Foundation Graduate Scholarship 2023
The Pennsylvania State University, B.S., Mechanical Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University, Pursuing an M.S., Engineering Design
The Pennsylvania State University
About my GBU Foundation Scholarship:
“I was able to purchase books, a laptop and more easily afford tuition in school because of my scholarships. I was able to focus on being a student without added financial stress. I was able to maintain good grades and get into graduate school as well. My ultimate goal is to work in automotive design, and I am getting closer to that goal every day. I am so grateful for the people and opportunities that I have been granted that have brought me to where I am today.”
As an undergraduate:
“I was the controls, brakes and safety lead for the Penn State formula racing team. In that role, I worked on designing, manufacturing, testing the braking system and driver interface and ensuring we had the proper safety equipment. I had two internships with Ford Motor Company’s Vehicle Propulsion Systems Engineering. This past summer, I worked on powertrain simulations for their diesel vehicles and even made the trip to their headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.”
Where Are They Now?
Mario Gioiello
Bethel, AK
Pilot
GBU Foundation Freshman Scholarship 2019-2022
Kent State University, Aeronautics with Flight Tech Concentration
Where Are They Now?
Elena Gioiello
Cleveland, OH
Dental School Student
GBU Foundation Freshman Scholarship 2019-2022
GBU Foundation Graduate Scholarship 2023
Walsh University, Biology with Business Minor
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Where Are They Now?
Jolena Gioiello
Sandusky, OH
Education Reporter,
Sandusky Register
GBU Foundation Grant 2019
GBU Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship 2020-2021
Ohio State University, Communications
Where Are They Now?
Jonathan Naser
Canonsburg, PA
Customer Service Supervisor, GBU Life, Pittsburgh, PA
District 3000 – HRFA Scholarship, 2012
GBU Foundation Grant, 2014
University of Pittsburgh, Neuroscience, B.S.
About my GBU Foundation Scholarship:
“My GBU Foundation Scholarship helped pay for my education and started my involvement with GBU. Thank you!”
GBU Foundation Scholars
GBU Foundation Scholars
GBU Foundation Giving Form
GBU Foundation Day of Giving
GBU Foundation Day of Giving
Community Grants Awards
Eligibility Guidelines
The Organization Must:
- Be a 501(c)3 organization
- Have an EIN number
- Positively impact the community or bring members of a community together for a cause outside of the community
The Organization Cannot:
- Be political in nature
- Controversial or serve a negative purpose
- Fund outreach or teaching of any specific religion or point of view
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
American Diabetes Association, Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, PA
Project Pillar: Wellness
Mission
The American Diabetes Association’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
Vision
The American Diabetes Association envisions a life free of diabetes and all its burdens.
What services do you provide to the community?
Local community services include free events such as the Pittsburgh Step Out Walk and State of Diabetes: Pittsburgh; Project Power, which helps address childhood diabetes and obesity; and Camp Courage, a summer program for children living with Type 1 diabetes. The ADA provides extensive free resources online and through email and hotline support, offering diabetes education, advocacy, meal planning tools, and healthy recipes. The ADA also supports Pittsburgh’s medical community by publishing the annual Standards of Diabetes Care, the gold standard for diabetes clinical guidelines, and by sponsoring research at the University of Pittsburgh.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The Western PA ADA requests funding to support Camp Courage, a week‑long sleepaway camp for children ages 8–17 living with Type 1 diabetes. Campers participate in traditional camp activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, and ropes courses while learning essential diabetes management skills under the supervision of trained counselors and medical staff. Throughout the week, campers build confidence, develop healthy habits, and strengthen their ability to manage blood sugar and prevent complications.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Knowing that every child’s life is sacred, we promise to improve the well-being of every child in our care and our communities.
What services do you provide to the community?
Cook Children’s is an integrated, not‑for‑profit pediatric health system serving more than 2 million patient encounters each year. We operate two medical centers, two surgery centers, a physician network, home health services, and a health plan. We also include specialty services such as the Child Study Center, Cook Children’s Health Services Inc., and Cook Children’s Health Foundation. Our reach extends nationwide, treating children from nearly every state and from 32 countries.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
At Cook Children’s, we are guided by a simple yet profound belief: Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong. This belief drives our work every day, as we provide compassionate, world-class care to children battling cancer and blood disorders. With cutting-edge therapies, groundbreaking research, and a family-centered approach, we bring hope and healing to families in their greatest time of need. Together with our community, we are transforming lives and creating brighter futures for our patients, ensuring that every child has the chance to dream big and achieve their full potential.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
The mission of NeuroBalance Center is to provide education, healthcare, fitness, research, support, wellness, and community in one place to those living with mobility challenges. The NeuroBalance Center is committed to research, ensuring that our services are at the forefront of innovation and best practices. We are a critical community resource to over 650 Cook County residents, specifically designed for those with conditions that might prevent them from attending a standard gym or fitness center.
Vision
NeuroBalance Center envisions a future in which people with mobility challenges have equitable access to innovative, evidence-based wellness services within a supportive community. We aim to be a national model for integrated care, combining education, fitness, healthcare, research, and wellness to empower individuals to move confidently and thrive beyond diagnosis. Through ongoing research and engagement, NeuroBalance Center leads best practices, ensuring every person is supported, strengthened, and connected.
What services do you provide to the community?
We deliver far more than exercise. The Center fosters a supportive community for individuals with complex health challenges, including neuromuscular or autoimmune conditions, mobility impairments, and recovery from strokes or traumatic brain injuries. Services include: physical, occupational, and speech therapy; gait and balance training; disease management consulting; nutritional counseling; chiropractic care; functional medicine; therapeutic massage; acupuncture and infusion services.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Through the Access for Everyone (AFE) program, the Center provides financial assistance to low‑income participants for personal training, wellness coaching, and therapeutic services. In 2024, the Center awarded 950 discounts totaling more than $47,000. In 2026, we aim to offer approximately 800 discounts at an average of 80% off—totaling $60,000—to maintain affordable access to life‑changing services.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Fleece & Thank You is dedicated to providing connection, comfort, and hope to children facing illness and their families by delivering colorful, handmade fleece blankets paired with personalized video messages of encouragement. Each year, more than 30,000 children in Michigan are admitted to the hospital. Our goal is to ensure that every child facing medical treatment receives not only physical warmth, but also a meaningful reminder that they are cared for, supported, and not alone.
Vision
Fleece & Thank You envisions a world where every child facing illness feels comforted and supported from the start of their hospital journey, and where emotional wellness is recognized as a vital part of healing for children and their families.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Grant funds will support one core initiative: our Blanket Therapy Program. Blanket therapy gives hospitalized children the chance to create their own fleece blanket, helping them feel creative and comforted during a stressful time. This program is 100% led by students, including our partnership with the University of Michigan at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, where UofM students facilitate on-site blanket therapy experiences. Funding will also support materials for students who prepare blanket kits at our warehouse, allowing more children and families to receive comfort and care.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Knollwood Community / Army Distaff Foundation
Washington, DC
Project Pillar: Wellness
Mission
Provide a compassionate community with exceptional wellness care and purposeful living for older adults who served our nation.
Vision
To be a national leader in developing and implementing an innovative health and wellness experience for older adults, inspiring our residents and other communities by excellent example.
What services do you provide to the community?
Wellness & fitness, education, healthcare, charitable giving and hometown support.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Funding from GBU Life will support Knoll House Community Center Renovations, which may include: upgraded flooring, lighting, and paint to improve safety and aesthetics; enhanced ADA accessibility (ramps, doorways, seating, restrooms); modernized common areas to better support group activities and events; improved acoustics and room layout for meetings and educational programs and updated furnishings to create a welcoming, multi‑purpose environment. These renovations will allow Knoll House to better serve residents while also welcoming families, volunteers, and community partners into a space designed for connection and inclusion.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Pennsylvania Elks Major Projects, Inc.
Somerset, PA
paelkshomeservice.org
Project Pillar: Wellness
Mission
To support and promote the independence of individuals with developmental disabilities by providing advocacy services in their home environment.
Vision
To build communities where each person with a disability feels safe, respected, connected, and valued for who they are. Building on their strengths so that each person belongs, each person is accepted, welcomed, and given the chance to participate in their community, regardless of ability.
What services do you provide to the community?
The PA Elks Home Service Program provides free, community‑based support to children, youth, and adults with developmental or acquired disabilities that began before age 22. Services include: in‑home visits; care coordination; advocacy for medical, educational, and community services; assistance navigating healthcare and insurance; support during transitions and accessibility planning; collaboration with schools and support pursuing employment, volunteer roles, and community engagement.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Funding will support travel, office, and communication costs that enable our staff to provide free, community‑based services across Pennsylvania. These resources help us reduce barriers, strengthen families, and improve quality of life for individuals with lifelong needs.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
To show Christ’s love and compassion by providing free, quality health care to the uninsured and their families
Vision
Our vision is to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ by providing and expanding access to free, quality health care for individuals and families without health insurance. Through collaboration, replication of our care model, and engaging in intentional community outreach, we strive to remove barriers to care and improve health outcomes for all.
What services do you provide to the community?
Services include: primary care; specialty care (cardiology, rheumatology, pharmacy, occupational and physical therapy, nutrition counseling, diabetes education, pain management); eye scans and eye clinics; flu vaccines and in‑house labs (pregnancy testing, HbA1c, glucose, strep, etc.) We also partner with other clinics, labs, pharmacies, and health systems to provide free or reduced‑cost medications, screenings, labs, and imaging. Additionally, we help patients address socioeconomic barriers by connecting them with needed social services.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Funding is needed to cover operating expenses required to run our free clinic. While we have 147 volunteers, our staff consists of one full time director and three part time employees. Costs include medical supplies, diagnostic tools, lab services, equipment maintenance, medications, vaccines, insurance, office supplies, educational materials, and staff and volunteer training.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Like the Sisters of Mercy before us, we witness God’s healing love for all people by providing excellent clinical and residential services within a community of compassionate care.
Vision
Stella Maris envisions a community where dignity, comfort, and holistic person-centered care are paramount, fostering fulfillment for both those served and the staff.
What services do you provide to the community?
In the spirit of Mercy, Stella Maris provides comprehensive, compassionate health and housing services for the elderly, the sick, and the dying. We offer independent senior living apartments, sub-acute rehabilitation, long-term nursing care, home care services, personal care services, inpatient and home hospice to those in need, bereavement counseling for adults and children, and a bereavement camp for children known as Camp Me Too.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Camp Me Too is an overnight bereavement camp designed to help grieving children learn ways to explore their grief in a safe environment using innovative techniques such as drums and musical instruments, nature walks, creative art, story sharing, and discovery and expression of feelings. Each child is paired with a volunteer adult “buddy” for the duration of the camp who has attended a four-hour training program and passed a background check. There are licensed counselors and nurses available as well.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
To provide a low‑cost, fun baseball and softball experience on fields our players and families can take pride in.
Vision
For kids of all ages to have fun while growing as players and as people.
What services do you provide to the community?
We provide baseball coaching and training to help children grow as athletes and people.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
To install lights on two fields to allow for better game scheduling and to enable parents to attend after work, and to renovate the infield at Ashley Field to provide a high quality playing surface.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Always B Smiling provides inclusive programs and experiences that promote well being, community engagement and empowerment for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Vision
To create a community where every individual, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive, contribute and be valued.
What services do you provide to the community?
Always B Smiling offers inclusive, no‑cost programming that empowers individuals of all abilities to thrive. B Active: Adaptive biking, running, and outdoor therapy programs that promote health and confidence. B Independent: Programs that build vocational and life skills, promoting independence and purpose. B Together: Social events that foster meaningful connections. School partnerships: Inclusive field trips and learning experiences. Over the next two years, the organization will expand through B’s Trailside Café and the Let’s Grow Horticulture Therapy greenhouse, creating a sustainable continuum of vocational, therapeutic, and community opportunities for participants aging out of school‑based supports.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
We are requesting $10,000 to launch the first year of Let’s Grow, an inclusive horticulture program based at our activity and learning center. The program centers around a new 16’ x 26’ greenhouse where participants with disabilities learn to plant, grow, harvest, prepare, and sell plants. Funding will support instruction, curriculum development, staff and volunteer training, adaptive tools, a farmers stand, greenhouse operations, and instructional materials. Participants will build educational pathways in horticulture and life skills, develop healthy habits, and gain confidence through hands‑on learning and customer interactions at our mobile farmers market, promoting independence, wellness, and community inclusion.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Angels’ Place was founded in 1984 with a mission to provide exceptional family support and quality early childhood education to help parents in need and their children become lifelong learners and create a brighter future.
Vision
Parents and children reach their full potential and break the multi-generational cycle of poverty.
What services do you provide to the community?
Families receive: Early childhood education and childcare; a comprehensive Family Support Program; group discussions on parenting, health, safety, financial literacy, and life skills; individual and group counseling; resource referrals and assistance in meeting food, clothing, and basic needs. Children receive two hot meals and healthy snacks daily that meet USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program standards. We also provide formula, diapers, and wipes while they are in care. Additional donations include holiday gifts, birthday gifts, clothing, shoes, toiletries, home goods, and more.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Since 1984, Angels’ Place has offered a practical, progressive and compassionate strategy to mitigate the challenges associated with single parenthood and a lack of resources. We provide early childhood education, child care and family support at no cost for student parents and at significantly reduced rates for working parents to ensure that families most in need have access to programs of excellence.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Girls Inc. of Greater Pittsburgh (GIGP)’s mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
Vision
GIGP’s vision is of powerful girls in a society that values and supports every girl. Through the Girls Inc. Experience, our trained staff and volunteers provide mentorship, structured environments, and programs that support youth in overcoming challenges and building essential skills. Together, we create supportive spaces that promote growth, resilience, and learning.
What services do you provide to the community?
GIGP provides holistic, prevention‑focused after‑school and summer programming grounded in the Girls Inc. research‑based model: Smart: Academic enrichment and STEM learning; Strong: Healthy living and social‑emotional development; Bold: Life skills and leadership training. Through mentoring, academic support, leadership activities, trauma‑informed environments, and youth‑centered programming, GIGP helps girls develop resilience and advocacy skills.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
GIGP will launch Eureka! in Summer 2026 to provide middle school girls with hands‑on STEM learning, mentorship, and exposure to STEM career pathways. The six‑week program will combine interactive STEM activities with personal development, sports, and leadership experiences to help girls build confidence and see themselves as future innovators and changemakers. The first year will serve an estimated 60 girls.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
MADD’s mission is to end drunk and drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking and other drug use.
Vision
MADD’s vision is to end impaired driving for good.
What services do you provide to the community?
MADD provides free, 24/7 support and resources for victims and survivors of impaired driving crashes. Our services include emotional support, guidance through the criminal justice system, accompaniment to court proceedings, support groups, and assistance preparing victim impact statements. We also offer educational, interactive presentations on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
MADD PA Underage Drinking and Other Drug Use Prevention Programs
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
The Trade Institute of Pittsburgh’s mission is to empower men and women with significant barriers to employment through skill building and career opportunities
Vision
A world where every person has an opportunity to find their NEXT.
What services do you provide to the community?
The Trade Institute of Pittsburgh (TIP) is a vocational training provider dedicated to helping individuals reentering society following incarceration, those who are chronically underemployed, those struggling with addiction, and others who need additional support to stabilize their lives. Over the past decade, TIP has served men and women across Allegheny County, meeting a growing demand for skilled workers in the bricklaying, masonry, and carpentry trades.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Funding will support TIP’s core trade programs and advance the goals outlined in the organization’s three year strategic plan (approved December 2023). These goals include increasing class sizes by 25% each year for three years, launching TIPX (a social enterprise), developing a workforce transportation program, and exploring replication opportunities to expand TIP’s impact.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Vilas County Economic Development Corporation (VCEDC)
Eagle River, WI
Project Pillar: Education
Mission
To build a strong, resilient Northwoods economy with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Vision
To be the catalyst for economic innovation and sustainable regional prosperity that complements our pristine Northwoods environment and quality of life.
What services do you provide to the community?
VCEDC supports economic growth by assisting small businesses and future entrepreneurs. We offer free one‑on‑one business consulting, educational workshops, and leadership in broadband expansion and local development initiatives. A major focus is our high school Entrepreneurship Education Program, which teaches students to develop business plans, solve real‑world problems, and present ideas to community leaders. Through this work, we help young people envision a future in Vilas County as business owners and community leaders.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
We seek funding for the Northland Pines High School Entrepreneurship Education Program. This program provides students with hands‑on business learning, expert guest speakers, and a “Shark Tank”‑style competition. Grant funds will support student scholarships, classroom materials, and speaker honorariums for the 2026–2027 school year.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Warrick Literacy and Educational Connections (WLEC)
Newburgh, IN
Project Pillar: Education
Mission
The mission of Warrick Literacy and Educational Connections (WLEC) is to close any literacy gap created by socio-economic levels. Literacy is the foundation for learning and future success in life.
Vision
The program began in March 2018 thanks to the efforts of the Castle North Middle School generationOn Club members. The after-school service club is an opportunity to empower students in grades 6 to 8. The club members established and grew the program. By 2019, the program became too large for the student group to manage and WLEC was established in December 2019. You can do anything if you can read! WLEC envisions spreading the love of reading by providing the same 60 Imagination Library books to ALL Warrick County children under the age of five. WLEC promotes future academic success through these quality, age-appropriate books mailed free of charge to Warrick County’s youngest citizens.
What services do you provide to the community?
WLEC supports early childhood literacy by partnering with the Dollywood Foundation to deliver Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books to all eligible preschoolers in Warrick County. The Foundation publishes and mails the books, while WLEC raises funds and registers children.
We are currently serving 2,050 children—about 60% of all county children from birth to age five—each of whom receives a free book every month. By age five, each registered child receives a total of 60 books.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Our purpose is to provide books for approximately 2,000 children each year. We are asking for $6,000 to help us obtain our goal of providing books for 200 registered children living in Warrick County which is located in Southern Indiana. Any grant awarded will put books into the hands of children.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
To rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in crisis; ensure healthy pets through education, advocacy and affordable services; and inspire a community where the animal-human bond is celebrated and nurtured.
Vision
A humane and compassionate future for every animal friend.
What services do you provide to the community?
Our programs and services include traditional animal sheltering and adoption for homeless dogs, cats, and rabbits; affordable veterinary care for owned pets; a pet food bank; humane education for young animal advocates; therapeutic animal interactions; training classes and behavior support; veterans programming; investigation of animal abuse and neglect; and more.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
This GBU Foundation grant would help us host free community vaccine clinics in underserved Pittsburgh neighborhoods in 2026. Funding will cover the direct costs of medical supplies and pet food, allowing Animal Friends to remove barriers to veterinary care and bring essential resources directly to communities where they are most needed. The project aims to protect pets from preventable disease, reduce shelter surrenders caused by financial hardship, and strengthen families’ ability to keep their companion animals healthy and at home.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Blackburn Center advocates for the rights of all individuals to live free from domestic, sexual and other forms of violence by eliminating the root causes of violence and providing for the well-being and safety of survivors and victims.
Vision
Blackburn Center envisions a world free from domestic, sexual and other forms of violence.
What services do you provide to the community?
We provide a 24‑hour hotline; emergency shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence and their children; counseling and therapy services; support groups; and 24/7 medical advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Legal advocates accompany survivors to Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearings, and Blackburn Center Legal offers civil legal services in matters such as divorce, custody, support, public benefits, and PFAs.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The Administrative and Shelter Technology Upgrade Project will update Microsoft Office software at Blackburn Center’s administrative offices and shelter. Staff currently use Microsoft Office 2016, which limits efficiency, collaboration, and security. Updated software will improve daily operations, documentation, reporting, and communication so we can continue providing high‑quality services to survivors of abuse and other crimes.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Compassionate Connections Center
Clintonville, WI
Project Pillar: Charitable Giving
Mission
Compassionate Connections Center empowers individuals and families by providing access to essential resources, dignity-centered support and hope, strengthening our community one connection at a time.
Vision
A community where basic needs are met, barriers are reduced, and every individual has the opportunity to live with dignity and hope for a stronger tomorrow.
What services do you provide to the community?
Our programs include: Food Assistance: The Nutrition Mission Weekend Food Backpack Program provides nutritious food to reduce hunger and support family stability. Hygiene and Diaper Pantry: Access to hygiene items, diapers, and essential household supplies. Vehicle Repair Assistance: Helping individuals maintain transportation for work, school, and medical care. Back‑to‑School Clothing & Supplies: Free clothing and supplies for school‑aged children. Emergency & Crisis Assistance: Short‑term support during times of financial hardship. Resource Navigation & Referrals: Guiding individuals toward local programs and services. Community Outreach: Events that build community connection and hope.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The Nutrition Mission serves 343 children in the Clintonville School District, from Head Start through high school, through a weekend backpack food program. Many of the children we serve experience food insecurity outside of school meal hours, especially on weekends. While shelf‑stable foods meet basic caloric needs, families consistently express a need for more fresh, nutritious options. Funding from GBU Foundation Community Grants would allow us to increase the quality, variety, and nutritional value of food provided, helping children return to school healthier, more focused, and better prepared to learn.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Little Lambs of Evansville
Evansville, IN
Project Pillar: Charitable Giving
Mission
We encourage healthy parenting acts that will increase the physical and mental development, health and safety of infants and children.
Vision
Little Lambs believes that a critical ingredient in our community’s ability to thrive and grow is a culture in which every infant is guaranteed the opportunity to grow up in a safe and healthy environment.
What services do you provide to the community?
We partner with more than 30 local professional organizations to provide vouchers to caregivers for “positive parenting acts,” such as doctor visits, developmental therapies, drug rehabilitation, nutrition education, and parenting classes. Caregivers redeem vouchers at the Little Lambs Store to obtain essential health and safety items, including car seats, high chairs, strollers, breastfeeding supplies, babyproofing items, and diapers. We also offer monthly life skills classes taught by professional partners to help parents better care for their children.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
We are requesting funds to help keep our Little Lambs Store stocked and able to serve families in need. Our client base has grown significantly over the years—from around 500 families annually five years ago to roughly 950 today. Increased demand and rising prices due to inflation have expanded our supply and operating costs. This grant would help bridge the growing gap and ensure families continue receiving essential resources.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
As a partner food bank of Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in the United States, our mission is to provide supplemental food to those who are hungry and to raise awareness of hunger throughout Mercer County.
Vision
We envision a Mercer County where no neighbor faces hunger alone. Through a strong, collaborative network of local charitable partners, we work to nourish families and individuals by ensuring a steady, reliable flow of food to those who need it most. By feeding thousands of households each month, we strive to build a healthier, more resilient community rooted in compassion, dignity, and hope.
What services do you provide to the community?
We source, inspect, store, and distribute large quantities of donated food, fresh produce, and USDA commodities through a network of 501(c)(3) partner agencies. We support emergency food needs and strengthen community‑based hunger relief by supplying food pantries, meal programs, and targeted initiatives for children, seniors, veterans, and working families. Through these efforts, we promote both immediate stability and long‑term food security across Mercer County.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Grant funding will support our ongoing food distribution efforts addressing food insecurity in Mercer County. Funds will help us procure, transport, store, and distribute nutritious food—including fresh produce, dairy, and essential staples. This support will strengthen our capacity to meet rising community demand and sustain monthly distributions to thousands of households. By investing in this program, the grant will directly improve food access, promote stability, and enhance overall community health.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
SafeNet is committed to ending domestic violence, affirming human dignity and delivering comprehensive direct services to victims of domestic violence. SafeNet provides sanctuary, support, education, advocacy, and promotes changes in legislation and social policies. We believe every individual has the right to be respected and to live a life free from abuse.
What services do you provide to the community?
SafeNet provides comprehensive domestic violence services, including 24/7 crisis support, safety planning, and advocacy. We offer emergency shelter and safe housing options, survivor centered case management, and assistance accessing community resources such as housing, basic needs, transportation, employment, and healthcare. Our services include legal advocacy and referrals, trauma informed counseling support, and programs for children impacted by abuse. We also deliver community education, outreach, and professional training to strengthen prevention efforts and improve responses to domestic violence.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
SafeNet seeks funding to support our Sponsor a Room of Hope initiative, which provides safe shelter and comprehensive support services for victims of domestic violence and their children. Through this program, donors help sustain individual shelter rooms, ensuring families escaping abuse have a secure place to stay. Each room provides more than shelter—it includes meals, clothing, counseling, advocacy, and 24‑hour support. Funding will help cover essential operational costs such as utilities, food, and security, enabling SafeNet to continue offering safety, stability, and hope year‑round.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Adventures in Training with A Purpose
Wexford, PA
Project Pillar: Hometown Hero Support
Mission
Adventures in Training with a Purpose (ATP) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to help those most in need to improve their quality of life through an adventure of purposeful physical training. Our vision is to work towards a world where no one is held prisoner to chronic pain, disease, or a mental health challenge because health benefits and paid rehabilitation cannot support a continuum of care, or more traditional therapeutic avenues have been exhausted.
Vision
ATP’s programs have a comprehensive mind/body/soul approach. ATP provides clients the opportunity to train and exercise in a Least Restrictive Environment and serves individuals with a myriad of mobility, neuromuscular, and mental and/or physical conditions. ATP provides physical and mental health relief that can be sustained for the long-term, so that no one individual is held prisoner to his/her physical limitations and can experience an improved quality of life.
What services do you provide to the community?
ATP serves individuals with a wide range of mobility, neuromuscular, and mental or physical challenges. We provide purposeful physical training and mental health support regardless of ability to pay. Veterans represent 60% of our client population.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Aurelius Program
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
We serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.
Vision
We do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.
What services do you provide to the community?
Our services include: Relief & Resiliency (H.O.P.E.): Comprehensive financial assistance for service members, veterans, first responders, and their families—from bill support to groceries—during times of crisis. First Responders Outreach: Emergency relief, training, and essential equipment to strengthen and support local first responders. Mental Wellness: Tailored support such as counseling, peer‑to‑peer programs, and therapeutic retreats that help individuals cope with the invisible wounds of war and trauma.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Funding for this program will be used to provide natural disaster relief support for first responders across the United States.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
To honor and support veterans in healthcare facilities by providing accessible, new clothing and comfort items through our mobile donation program. We aim to serve those who have served our country by meeting them where they are, ensuring they have the resources they need to live with dignity and comfort. Through community-driven support, we strive to make a lasting impact in the lives of veterans.
Vision
Operation Outfit envisions a world where every veteran receives respect, care, and the basic necessities they need to live comfortably, regardless of their mobility, financial situation, or health challenges.
What services do you provide to the community?
Operation Outfit provides mobile delivery of new clothing and essential items to veterans in long‑term care facilities, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. We supply properly fitted, seasonally appropriate clothing, shoes, and hygiene items to veterans who may have limited income, transportation, or family support. We also: organize community donation drives; partner with local organizations and respond to requests from facilities and veteran support programs. By bringing resources directly to veterans, we reduce barriers and ensure they receive the essentials needed for dignity and daily comfort.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Funding will support Operation Outfit’s mobile clothing program for veterans in healthcare environments. Grant funds will be used to purchase new, properly fitting, seasonally appropriate clothing and essential items for veterans with limited access to needed resources. The grant will also help cover packaging, transportation, and outreach costs, enabling us to expand deliveries, serve additional facilities, and reach more veterans with the essential items they need.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Nurturing body, mind and spirit through God and horses.
Vision
To support all the men and women who serve and protect our country and local community by providing a place where they can experience peace, healing and a community that supports each other like family, at no cost to them.
What services do you provide to the community?
We provide Therapeutic Horsemanship and Equine Assisted Services for veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, active duty military, and first responders from Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas — all at no cost to participants.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The Horses Helping Heroes program is offered free of charge because we believe it is our calling to support the mental health and wellness of those who serve and protect us. In 2025, we served more than 40 participants from all branches of the military, local police departments, sheriff’s offices, and fire services. While this program is life changing, it is also resource intensive. Equine assisted services require the care of living animals, specialized staff, and a safe, well maintained environment. Funding will help sustain the program and continue providing healing and support to our community’s heroes.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Tails of Valor®, Paws of Honor, Inc
Coopersburg, PA
Project Pillar: Hometown Hero Support
Mission
Tails of Valor®, Paws of Honor, Inc (TOV) was established in 2014 with a mission to provide rehabilitation through non-medicinal therapies. Our canine-assisted service programs offer social interactions and human/canine bonding while on a Journey With A Purpose®. Our canines can assist with psychological and physical trauma affecting our veterans, law enforcement, and emergency personnel. Our programs treat the whole person, not just the symptoms of the problem.
Vision
Creating a better tomorrow for those who gave us today.
What services do you provide to the community?
TOV currently provides animal assisted therapy (service dog programs) to veterans, law enforcement, and EMS personnel. We are expanding to offer additional wellness services including: FAR Infrared therapy, sound therapy and bio feedback.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The New 2026 Wellness Program will expand TOV’s services to include a six week cohort based program for 10 veterans. Participants will meet three times each week to receive: FAR Infrared therapy for PTSD and pain; sound therapy for anxiety and depression; bio feedback for depression and self awareness and group based canine therapy to foster social interaction and bonding. Each cohort will end with a capstone volunteer project serving the veteran community. Eligible participants must have an active diagnosis of PTSD and/or TBI.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Veterans Wellness Program
Pittsburgh, PA
Project Pillar: Hometown Hero Support
Mission
The Mission of the YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
Vision
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.
What services do you provide to the community?
The YMCA offers a wide range of programs, including: Before and After School Enrichment, Creative arts program, STEAM enrichment, Child Care, Summer Day Camp, Camp AIM for children and young adults with disabilities, Camp Spencer Superstars adults with special needs ages, swimming and sports, fitness classes, parent-child programs, swim lessons and lifeguard certification, emloyment services, free tax return preparation, single-resident occupancy (SRO) housing and membership and program financial assistance.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
In 2025, the Spencer Family YMCA ran a pilot Veterans Wellness Program focused on bringing veterans and their families together to improve their mental and physical well‑being. The 12‑week program includes guided fitness and wellness activities and provides each participant with a complimentary six‑month membership. The first cohort was supported by a one‑time $7,500 grant. For 2026, the Spencer Family YMCA would like to run two cohorts of the program. Each participant costs $1,700 to serve.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Vision
Best Buddies envisions a world where people with Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) are so successfully integrated into schools, workplaces and communities that its current efforts and services will be unnecessary. Until that vision becomes a reality, the organization will continue to educate middle school, high school and college students, community members, corporations and employers about the emotional, functional, and natural needs and abilities of people with IDD.
What services do you provide to the community?
Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families. BBPA Friendship programs build one-to-one friendships between people with and without IDD, offering social interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Leadership Development programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. We believe participants can lead the effort within communities to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Best Buddies in Pennsylvania (BBPA) currently serves over 7,900 participants throughout the state and specifically serving 3,200 participants in Western Pennsylvania. Having chapters ranging from kindergarten to college gives a unique opportunity to establish the next “inclusion revolution”. Through our Friendship chapters, BBPA creates an organization that is filled with a sense of belonging and inclusion to ensure that those with IDD are empowered within schools. This environment of inclusion aims to provide skills to fully participate in daily life and create future independence. While also providing opportunities to learn socially responsible leadership skills through our Leadership Development Program.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Exchange Club Center for Family Unity
Owatonna, MN
Project Pillar: Education
Mission
Educate and support families and community to prevent child abuse
Vision
We see a world without child abuse where all children are happy, healthy, loved and secure. A peaceful world where all children are nurtured by loving families and strong, healthy and supportive communities.
What services do you provide to the community?
The Center offers an evidence based parent aide program that helps improve parenting skills, promotes positive discipline techniques and help understand your child’s development stages. We collaborate with many local resources to be able to help distribute diapers, wipes, socks, underwear and books to anyone in need. We collaborated this last year with local food shelf to create a meal plan for families based on the food items regularly available at the food shelf. We then teach classes on how to prep food and send family home with 5 meals all prepared.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Funds will be used to expand our education to the Hispanic community. In 2025 we were awarded funding to help us hire two part time bilingual parent mentors. The Center has been able to utilize the bilingual mentors to help gain trust in the Hispanic community and provide support to strengthen family relationships. We will continue removing language barriers by offering materials in Spanish and mentoring parents in Spanish. If we can reduce stress in the family, we can reduce the risk of abuse.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Family House provides an affordable “home away from home” for patients and their families who must travel to Pittsburgh for medical care.
Vision
Family House seeks to reduce the emotional and financial stresses experienced by patients and caregivers who are dealing with medical crises while undergoing treatment in an unfamiliar city.
What services do you provide to the community?
Located within close proximity to area hospitals, Family House offers the comforts of home and convenience to loved ones at affordable rates. When staying at Family House, guests can expect an array of support programming such as weekly group therapy sessions, regular visits by therapy dogs, a daily healthy breakfast, and meals prepared and served by volunteers. Other programming that helps make our guests feel at home include movie nights, board game nights, and yoga classes.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
To support general operations that provide an extensive array of support, including complimentary transportation to local healthcare providers, heavily discounted parking, our free daily healthy breakfast program, and a communal kitchen with fully stocked food pantry. It will also support guest programming, coordinated and delivered by a social worker aimed at helping patients and caregivers manage the countless extra-financial effects they may experience during and after certain medical care. This includes our family assistance program that aims to reduce the financial burdens impacting our guests by subsidizing room fees for low-income families and for those who require longer stays.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Spread awareness for electric shock drowning (ESD) to help prevent tragedies like what happened to James from happening to anyone else in the future.
Vision
Create a more aware tomorrow by ensuring everyone is continuously focused on water safety around docks and marinas nationwide.
What services do you provide to the community?
Our annual golf outing provides a strong networking opportunity for the local community, and 100% of the proceeds benefit the foundation. Our cumulative impact to date includes: supporting pending Pennsylvania legislation; donating $10,000 to the Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) Prevention Association; awarding $21,000 in scholarships to Peters Township (PT) Hockey and St. Louise de Marillac School; committing $2,000 to the PT Hockey team’s locker room renovation project; donating $28,645 to fully fund a perpetual endowment in James’ name at PennWest California; providing $2,000 in sponsorships for the PennWest California Hockey team’s golf outing; donating $500 to Mainstay Life Services.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
We’re always looking for new ways to give back to the community and spread ESD awareness beyond our annual golf outing. This grant would help us make the outing even more successful and also give us the ability to plan another annual event, such as a night at the races or other ideas we’ve discussed. We also hope to increase our community presence by working with local docks and marinas to host a collaborative event.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
The Kettering Children’s Choir cultivates musical excellence and personal growth by providing high-quality choral education, performance opportunities, and community engagement for young singers throughout the Miami Valley.
Vision
The Kettering Children’s Choir envisions a region where young voices are developed, valued, and heard—strengthening community life through musical excellence, collaboration, and shared cultural experiences across generations.
What services do you provide to the community?
The Kettering Children’s Choir provides high-quality choral music education and public performances that enrich the cultural life of the Miami Valley. Through structured vocal training and ensemble performance, young singers develop teamwork, discipline, confidence, and leadership skills. KCC promotes civic pride and youth engagement by performing at community and sporting events, including national anthem presentations, and by participating in community festivals and activities. The choir also incorporates service projects each semester, supporting local charities through donation drives, fundraising, meal preparation through St. Vincent Community Shelter, and collections for Good Neighbor House—extending youth leadership beyond the stage.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Voices for Wellness: Youth Leadership, Music Education, and Community Well-Being. Voices for Wellness is a community-focused initiative that uses choral music education and youth leadership to support emotional well-being, confidence, and social connection across the Miami Valley. Through structured vocal training, student leadership opportunities, and readiness for recurring community performances—such as civic, seasonal, and business events—young singers develop teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills while sharing live choral music in accessible settings. Singing is used not only to develop vocal skill, but to promote whole-child wellness of the body, mind, and spirit while strengthening community connection.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Knollwood Community / Army Distaff Foundation
Washington, DC
Project Pillar: Wellness
Mission
Provide a compassionate community with exceptional wellness care and purposeful living for older adults who served our nation.
Vision
To be a national leader in developing and implementing an innovative health and wellness experience for older adults, inspiring our residents and other communities by excellent example.
What services do you provide to the community?
Wellness & fitness, education, healthcare, charitable giving and hometown support.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Funding from GBU Life will support Knoll House Community Center Renovations, which may include: upgraded flooring, lighting, and paint to improve safety and aesthetics; enhanced ADA accessibility (ramps, doorways, seating, restrooms); modernized common areas to better support group activities and events; improved acoustics and room layout for meetings and educational programs and updated furnishings to create a welcoming, multi‑purpose environment. These renovations will allow Knoll House to better serve residents while also welcoming families, volunteers, and community partners into a space designed for connection and inclusion.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Outdoor Odyssey’s mission is to strengthen individual and community wellness by cultivating mental fitness, resilience, leadership, and meaningful human connection through immersive, experiential learning. Rooted in evidence-informed Mental Fitness & Resiliency Training (MFRT), Outdoor Odyssey integrates nature-based experiences, reflective practice, and skill-building to help youth, veterans, educators, and community members regulate stress, build healthy relationships, and develop a strong sense of purpose and belonging. By embedding mental fitness into daily life and community culture, Outdoor Odyssey empowers participants to navigate challenges, contribute positively to others, and sustain lifelong well-being.
Vision
Outdoor Odyssey’s vision is a community where people of all ages develop the mental fitness and resiliency to lead with purpose, regulate stress, and stay connected to others—especially during challenge and change. We envision schools, families, and civic networks equipped with practical skills that strengthen calm, clarity, and healthy relationships, so fewer individuals are sidelined by chronic stress, conflict, or disconnection. Through immersive, experiential training rooted in applied neurobiology and everyday practice, Outdoor Odyssey aims to grow a culture of steady leadership, service, and well-being that spreads through daily life and local role models.
What services do you provide to the community?
Outdoor Odyssey provides community-based wellness programming that builds mental fitness, resiliency, and leadership through experiential, nature-informed learning. We deliver day-long Mental Fitness & Resiliency Training (MFRT) seminars and workshops for educators, community leaders, first responders, and youth-serving organizations, teaching practical regulation skills (breathing, grounding, stress-window tools), co-regulation strategies, and healthy relationship practices. Through Semper Fi Odyssey (SFO), we offer veteran-focused experiences—including week-long programs—that strengthen connection, purpose, and peer support while reinforcing transferable mental fitness skills for daily life. We also partner with schools and community organizations (e.g., YMCA) to support implementation and ongoing practice.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The purpose of this grant request is to continue Outdoor Odyssey’s community wellness programming by removing financial barriers to participation in Mental Fitness & Resiliency training experiences. A meaningful portion of our constituency cannot afford these offerings without scholarship support made possible through grant funding. These experiences strengthen practical skills for stress regulation, resiliency, and healthy connections, enabling participants to bring evidence-informed mental fitness tools back to their families, workplaces, schools, and community networks. Funding will expand access and sustain program momentum across the region.
GBU Foundation 2026 Community Grant Award Finalists
The GBU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded in part by GBU Financial Life. Vote for your favorite finalist in each Community Pillar. You can vote once per email address during the voting period. Each vote allows you to choose one organization in each of the four categories and one additional organization for the Community Builders Award, for a total of five selections per vote. All organizations included in the voting round have been reviewed and verified by the GBU Foundation under its published nomination and eligibility guidelines as IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Final grant awards will be determined based on the voting results and the Foundation’s grant guidelines. Full details at inside.gbu.org/cga-nominations.