2015 Grant Awards
A complete list of funded projects
The Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona’s annual competitive grants process concluded with
$183,000 awarded to 41 local nonprofit organizations providing services to residents of Sedona and the
Verde Valley. Grants supported projects in a wide variety of sectors including social services, the arts and
animal welfare. Read a full list of the projects and programs below.
Children
CASA Children’s Center, Inc.
Funds will be used to fulfill written financial assistance requests from CASA volunteers and/or case
managers of the Department of Child Services.
Civil Air Patrol – Verde Valley Composite Squadron 205
Funding will be used for building improvements and cover support 14 cadets between the ages of 12 and 18
in attending a summer encampment to participate in trainings to develop their leadership, physical strength
and character as well as learn about the field of aerospace.
MATFORCE
The grant award will support the second Verde Valley PAX Good Behavior Game training program. This
evidence-based training provides teachers with strategies they can use to improve the classroom experience
and increase opportunities for student achievement.
Northern Arizona Restorative Justice
Funding will support Sedona Youth Restorative Justice in recruiting and training volunteers and law
enforcement officers to increase referrals of juveniles to the program and better provide direct services to
them.
Sedona Chamber of Commerce
Funds will support youth participation in the Sedona Marathon by covering the registration fees of all
students who register with Youth Teams and marketing the event to local youth.
Sedona Charter School
Funds will be used to install new carpeting in the school’s upper elementary classroom.
Teen Lifeline, Inc.
Funds will allow Teen Lifeline, Inc. to educate youth in the Sedona area about the suicide prevention hotline.
Verde Valley Fire Chiefs Association
Funds will be used to purchase an enclosed trailer and outfit it with sound equipment and accessories that
will allow local fire chiefs to provide safety education to children throughout the Verde Valley.
Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona
Report — Page 2
Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters
Funds will support Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters in the recruitment of bilingual Bigs to connect Latino
children with culturally appropriate mentorship.
Community Services
Adult Community Center of Sedona
Funds awarded to the Adult Community Center of Sedona will purchase breakfast foods including eggs, fresh
fruit, oatmeal, cereal, bacon and waffles that will be delivered to homebound seniors every Friday.
Alzheimer’s Association – Desert Southwest Chapter
Funds will support the Sedona Alzheimer’s Care and Support Program, which provides services to empower
family caregivers in order to enhance the quality of care they offer their loved ones with Alzheimer’s and
related dementias.
Catholic Charities Community Services, Inc.
Funds will support the operations of the LOFT Drop-In Center for the Homeless, which provides a respite and
connection to services for anyone experiencing homelessness, with partial coverage of rent and utilities as
well as support the hiring of an AmeriCorps volunteer.
Connections Equine Therapy Program
Funds will cover the cost of increasing the instruction hours at Connections Equine Therapy Program,
transitioning the current instructor from part-time to full-time.
Cornucopia Community Advocates
Grant funds to Cornucopia Community Advocates will allow the organization to provide financial aid to more
than 60 clients referred by social and health agencies through its Sedona Safety Net program. Financial aid is
used to meet emergency financial needs like rent, utilities, auto repair, vocational training, food or clothing.
The Giving Angels
Funds will be used to purchase 630 towel sets for delivery to seniors living in Sedona and the Village of Oak
Creek.
Northern Arizona Institutions for Community Leadership
Funds will support the Immigrant Family Integration program and allow them to continue their successful
family nights as well as recruit and train new volunteers.
Sedona Public Library, Inc.
Funds will be used to outfit the local library with a self-service Library Document Station, which patrons can
use to scan and fax documents.
The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center
Funds to the Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center in Cottonwood will allow the center to educate and inform
Sedona residents of the services provided by the Center for adults with disabilities.
Trauma Intervention Programs of Arizona
Funds will be used to recruit, train and equip 20 volunteers to support the organization’s work in the
community.
Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona
Report — Page 3
Verde Valley Archaeology Center
Funds will support the Verde Valley Archaeology Site Watch program for site steward training by covering
the cost of producing training manuals, instruction hours and classroom rental. Funds will also be used in
support of a public awareness campaign.
Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition
Funds will support transportation for senior Sedona residents, providing rides to more than 650 elderly and
disabled residents of Sedona to healthcare appointments, grocery shopping and other destinations.
Expenses for the program include staffing costs for the one-call ride request center and reimbursements to
volunteer drivers.
Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition
Funds will support the Red Rock Mountain Bike Patrol by recruiting and training new volunteers to the
Mountain Bike Patrol. With four million visitors to Sedona each year and 200 miles of trails to patrol, the
response team is critical in reducing chances and severity of injury. Funds will also support signage
improvements.
Verde Valley Sanctuary, Inc.
Funding will be used to support Verde Valley Sanctuary’s services to Sedona residents affected by domestic
violence and sexual assault, including providing information, service referrals, counseling, legal support and
crisis intervention.
Yavapai Food Council
Funds will be used for the acquisition of space and equipment for a commercial kitchen space including a 3compartment sink, mop sink, grease trap, freezer, cooler, stainless steel tables, stove, oven, hood vent, ice
machine and kitchen shelving.
Arts & Culture
Arizona Theatre Company
Funds to the Arizona Theatre Company will offset the costs of delivering the Theatre On The Go program to
Sedona-area youth, including staff salaries, travel and production materials.
Chamber Music Sedona
Funds will support the work of a consultant who will work with the organization’s staff and Board to build
the capacity of the organization to serve the community with chamber music programming.
Red Rocks Music Festival
Funds will be used to support the Festival’s music educational outreach for underserved public and charter
schools. Funds will be used to support the performance venues, materials and musicians’ fees.
Sedona Arts Center
Funds will support the Sedona Arts Center Digital Media and Filmmaking Academy by covering the cost of
equipment and software to enable film production and editing. The Digital Media and Filmmaking Academy
will provide students and adults in Northern Arizona with access to workshops and certificate-bearing
courses in photography concepts and professional imaging techniques.
Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona
Report — Page 4
Sedona Arts Festival
Funds will be used to purchase supplies and rent equipment to enhance the experience and quality of
continuous live music in the festival’s Community Tent, Guest Gallery and KidZone.
Sedona International Film Festival & Workshop, Inc.
Funds will support the Connecting Cultures Film Initiative at the 22nd annual festival. The initiative will
feature a track of films from 10 different countries and facilitated discussions with the filmmakers from
around the world.
Verde Valley Sinfonietta
Funds will be used to upgrade the technology of the Verde Valley Sinfonietta from its computers to its
website, ticketing system and email marketing.
Environment & Sustainability
Benefactors of Red Rock State Park, Inc.
Funds will partially cover the salary of a part-time School Ranger to allow students to learn about the
environment and experience the outdoors in Red Rock State Park.
Gardens for Humanity
Funds will support the Greening Seeds Teen Program at Red Rock High School, which trains students in
gardening and sustainability practices. Grant dollars will cover the cost of seeds and paid internship
positions.
Rainbow Acres
Funds will be used to offset costs of transporting Ranchers to sort materials at Sedona Recycles five days a
week, including fuel, vehicle insurance and labor costs for a specially trained driver.
Sedona Area Garden Club
Funds will support the printing and distribution of “On the Trail of Trees, Tracks and Tails,” an interactive
field book, to Sedona-area students by providing class sets, teachers’ manuals and DVDs to schools and
public libraries.
Sedona Recycles, Inc.
Funds will be used to construct a steel gate and front door to the facility and material yard to increase
security, protecting visitors and sensitive materials as well as preventing debris from blowing out of the
yard.
Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund
Funds will be used to preserve the Red Rocks trails, which help visitors and residents alike understand, savor
and appreciate the trails.
The Verde Conservation Education Center
Funds will support the organization’s Farm to Plate program, which reconnects students to food production,
farming and the natural environment through education.
Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona
Report — Page 5
Animal Welfare
Golden Bone Rescue and Rehab
Funds will support a rehabilitation program for dogs to increase their chances of adoption and successful
transition into a forever home.
Morning Starr Animal Sanctuary
Funds will support Operation Pit, a program to spay or neuter and provide rabies vaccines to
approximately70 pit bulls in Sedona and the Verde Valley at no cost to the owner.
Red Rose Inspiration for Animals, Inc.
Funds will support the hiring of a volunteer coordinator and Thriftique Manager. This investment serves to
build the capacity of the organization with the addition of a new and critical position.