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September 5, 2008
Alcoa Foundation, Alcoa Inc. grants announced more than $360,000 invested back into East Tennessee
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Alcoa, Tenn. -- Alcoa Foundation and Alcoa Inc. Tennessee Operations are granting more than $360,000 to 19 non-profit organizations in Anderson, Blount, Knox, Monroe and Sevier counties in Tennessee and Graham County, NC. The grants awarded range from support for a land stewardship initiative to an innovative program designed to increase graduation rates in Monroe County.
A group of 12 business, community, and government leaders reviewed 64 grant proposals totaling more than $1.6 million in funding requests. The group is responsible for evaluating and making recommendations to Alcoa Tennessee Operations and Alcoa Foundation on what projects should be funded.
“With so many worthwhile organizations and a limited amount of funding, the best way to evaluate these requests is with our Community Advisory Board - a group of individuals who live, work and volunteer here in East Tennessee,” said Brett McBrayer, Alcoa Inc. Primary Metals location manager. “Through this process, the funding that we invest into the region is truly a community effort.”
Grantmaking priorities were based on business needs, findings from community assessments, community relations goals and Alcoa Foundation areas of excellence – which include conservation and sustainability, global education and workforce development; safe and healthy children and families; and business and community partnerships.
“This year’s grant-selection process focused on conservation/sustainability and workforce development – two areas that our communities recognize as vital for the continuation of our industry and the area’s industries as a whole,” said Chris Jackson, location manager for Alcoa Inc. Tennessee Operations Rigid Packaging Division.
The following is a list of grants that Alcoa Foundation and Alcoa Tennessee Operations will be awarding in 2008: | Organization Name | 2008 Grant | Grant Purpose | | Blount County Literacy Council | $30,000 (over two years) | English as a second language classes and employment maintenance assistance | | Charles M. Hall Alumni Association | $8,450 | Scholarships for high school students in the Hall/Oldfield communities to pursue higher education | | Foothills Land Conservancy | $25,000 | Little River Conservancy Project | | Friends of the Knox County Public Library | $5,000 | Imagination Library | | Friends of the Smokies | $75,000 (over three years) | “Trails Forever”; Teacher-Ranger-Teacher initiative | | Girls Scouts of Tanasi Council | $10,000 | Land stewardship project | | Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont | $40,000 (over two years) | Expand/strengthen Citizen Science program; install solar array | | Haven House/Mane Support | $54,436 (over three years) | HALT – Horses Assisting in Life-Changing Transitions | | Hearing and Speech Foundation | $10,000 | Indigent care program | | HOME Inc. | $1,050 | Support for ACT/SAT preparatory classes and visits to college campuses | | Ijams Nature Center | $60,000 (over two years) | Continuation of Living Clean and Green program | | Junior Achievement of East Tennessee | $10,000 | Scholarships for economically disadvantaged students to JA Biztown | | Knox County Public Library | $6,500 | Summer library club | | Leadership Blount | $36,000 (over three years) | Youth Leadership Blount program | | Maryville Kiwanis Foundation | $5,000 | Imagination Library | | National Parks Conservation Association | $51,308 (over three years) | Cades Cove shuttle pilot program | | Richard Williams Jr. Leadership Development Academy | $4,000 | Faith-based mentoring, self-development program for middle- and high-school aged students | | Boys and Girls Club of the Monroe County Area | $15,000 (over two years) | Goals for Graduation program | | Stecoah Valley Arts, Crafts and Educational Center | $15,000 (over two years) | Ecotourism program development |
2007 Grant Recipients with multi-year funding include: | Organization Name | 2008 investment | Grant Purpose | | Blount Education Initiative | $25,000 (year 2 of 3) | Workforce development | | Knoxville Zoological Gardens Inc. | $25,785 (year 2 of 2) | Zoo S.E.N.S.E | | Pellissippi State Technical Community College Foundation | $44,178 (year 2 of 2) | Technology apprenticeship program | | Tennessee Clean Water Network | $5,000 (year 2 of 2) | Protection of wetlands | | University of Tennessee – Knoxville | $22,790 (year 2 of 2) | Energy education in local schools |
Jackson added, “While the investment of dollars is significant, we also emphasize the importance of giving back to the community through the region’s non-profit organizations with the donation of
volunteer time. Participation in Alcoa’s Month of Service and the United Way Day of Caring are excellent ways our employees can give their time to help an organization in need.”
In the past year, local Alcoans donated more than 1,000 volunteer hours and Alcoa Inc. contributed approximately $36,000 to 16 organizations through our ACTION (Alcoans Coming Together in our Neighborhoods) grant program.
About Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations
Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations is the world's largest producer of rolled aluminum can sheet for beverage cans. It has been in operation in Blount County, Tenn., since 1913 and currently employs approximately 1,700 East Tennesseans in its Blount and Knox County locations. Tennessee Operations is one of 316 Alcoa Inc. operating locations in 34 countries.
About Alcoa Foundation
Established in 1952, Alcoa Foundation is a global resource that actively invests in improving the quality of life in the countries around the world where Alcoa operates. The Foundation's grants address global and local needs in Areas of Excellence that include: Conservation and Sustainability, Global Education and Workplace Skills, Business and Community Partnerships and Safe and Healthy Children and Families. Alcoa Foundation manages Alcoa's ACTION and Bravo! programs which recognize the volunteer efforts of employees with grants to the organizations they serve. For more information about Alcoa Foundation, visit www.alcoa.com under Community.
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