The Black Belt Community Foundation

Education: The Foundation operates a head start program, a comprehensive child development program for low-income families and children, ages 3 to 5, in The following counties of The Black Belt: dallas county, choctaw county, marengo county and wilcox county. The bbcf head start program ensures children and families are prepared and ready for kindergarten. Head start engages parents and family members in positive relationships, with focus on family well-being to promote children's growth in a positive learning environment through a variety of services which includes early learning and development; health and nutrition; and family well-being. Additionally, The Foundation's reach in communities has made it a leading partner with institutions of higher education. These partnerships allow a continuum of care for children ages 3 through The 1st year of college, including support for high school students enrolled in workforce and professional development courses.

Community leadership - with a credible history of serving as a trusted Community convener, bbcf brings together local residents, business leaders, educators, local and county governments to strategically attack major Community challenges, such as food scarcity, emergency shelter shortages, wastewater systems, housing rehabilitation needs, inequitable school systems, and neighborhood revitalization through a variety of programs including, advocacy, Community education and civic participation.

Grantmaking - The Foundation's 19-year span of charitable giving, including emergency response funding, has provided essential, very necessary, and oftentimes critical operational support in our twelve county Black Belt region, in addition to thirteen states across The deep south. The Foundation distributed 482 grant disbursements totaling $4,274,238 during The year in The following areas: 369 grants totaling $3,789,043 supporting Black girls and women in The south; 21 grants totaling $62,225 supporting arts and culture; 9 grants totaling $25,200 supporting Community development; 7 grant totaling $70,000 supporting criminal justice reform; 25 grants totaling $67,600 supporting health and mental health counseling ; 1 grant totaling $61,645 support racial equity work; 1 grant totaling $5,000 supporting lgbtq communities; 13 grants totaling $80,000 supporting capacity building; 15 grants totaling $45,925 supporting education; 2 grants totaling $8,000 supporting volunteer fire departments; 1 grant totaling $5,000 supporting animal control, 1 grant totaling $4,000 supporting individual humanitarian relief; 1 grant totaling $2,000 supporting staff development; 11 grants totaling $39,000 supporting recreation; 3 grants totaling $10,000 supporting childcare and senior citizens programs.