Funding will support 3 main activities of the BrightLife Program, which will receive a $25,000 grant.
The Foundation is happy to be partnering with FINCA for the third year.

Worldwide data states that over 1 billion people lack access to electricity, and 3 billion lack access to clean
cooking and heating solutions. In Uganda, close to 90% of Ugandans are not connected to the electric grid
and 75% of Ugandans rely of unclean energy sources for cooking and heating. Additionally 35% of Ugandans
lack access to clean water.
Innovative and affordable products have been developed in areas of energy,
access to clean water, and sanitation. Products include low-cost solar lanterns, clean cook stoves, and water
filters. Over the past 2 years, FINCA’s BrightLife program has tested a unique approach to bringing these life
savings products to the “Bottom of the Pyramid” populations in Uganda.
FINCA has however encountered problems due to many of the products failing to reach their desired target
market In response to customer feedback, FINCA re-evaluated its business model for BrightLife, and has modified
their approach.
Today they are growing their presence deeper into the un-electrified Ugandan countryside by
focusing on:
1. Growing our Community Mobilizer program – this program will help reach deeper into rural markets
by building trust networks. In 2017 FINCA intends to grow the program by focusing on training and
employing women and youth. The goal is for community mobilizers to help products reach their
desired destination, while remaining intact.
2. Launching a customer awareness and education campaign – the products the BrightLife program
intends to distribute require customer education on product usage. This program will train the
community mobilizers of how to use products, so they can share with our community members.
3. Revising our financial model to better match customer cash flows – products that BrightLife
distributes are more effective and more energy efficient energy substitutes for families and should be
priced to mimic the way customers purchase energy products. The pay as you go product will allow
families to pay for energy and products on a daily, weekly or monthly schedule, whichever works
better for each client.
Funds for the BrightLife program will be spent from January to December 2017 and will be used across 25
locations in Uganda.
Success is measured by FINCA looking at product uptake as well as the social impact that the model has on
end users of the products. Outreach indicators such as the number of households reached and the number of
indirect beneficiaries will also be measured.

Congratulations to Trickle Up, they have been awarded a $25,000 grant.
In 2016, Trickle Up served 850 women, girls, people with disabilities, and indigenous peoples in the Americas.
They implemented projects in Guatemala and Nicaragua and advised new local partnerships. Over the next 5
years, Trickle Up’s goal is to reach 25,000 participants, benefiting a total of 125,000 people in the Americas. A
grant from the McQuade Foundation will help Trickle Up reach that goal. Funds will be used to support their
current projects in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Paraguay in their fiscal year ending August, 2017.
Projects not only include their empowerment program but also include different Government partnerships
aimed to the improvement of social conditions.
Once a woman begins the program, she joins a savings group of 10-25 women who learn to save together and
take out loans to reinvest in their businesses. This is the first group many of these women have ever been a
part of. These groups help women with self-confidence and decision-making. Trickle Up implements projects
specifically for young women and girls to increase their social empowerment and economic opportunities.
They seek to increase participants’ income and financial literacy, capacity to access and manage savings and
credit, and knowledge of sexual and reproductive rights. The goal is for women to become empowered,
effective self-advocates, and leaders in their communities.
To monitor success, Trickle Up uses an evaluations system that is based on quantitative and qualitative data,
mobile data collection, and participatory approaches that asks a series of questions to participants. They
analyze outcomes of participants, families and communities to help further define and measure success.

Congratulations to the Teachers at Virgin Valley Elementary School at
200 Woodbury Lane Mesquite, 89027.

28 Teachers registered for AdoptAClassroom.
Each of the 28 teachers will receive $500.00 toward their classroom needs for a total grant of $14,000.00.

Teachers need help now more than ever.
K-12 teachers spend $600 a year of their own money on classroom supplies. AdoptAClassroom.org helps offset these costs by funding the classroom materials that students need to learn and succeed.
91% of teachers purchase school supplies for their students. Unfortunately, this has become the norm.
That’s because most states are providing less support for K-12 schools than ever before. And over half of public school students are low-income.
Currently, this gap is being filled by teachers themselves, with 60% of all classroom supplies being purchased by teachers out of their own pockets.
This leaves a big resource gap in many classrooms. Kids just aren’t getting the materials they need to learn.
That’s why our mission (at AdoptAClassroom) is to give teachers a hand and provide needed classroom materials so their students can succeed.

I encourage you to go to their website and see if teachers in your area are registered, and that you too will help support a classroom in your community.

Kathryn

The Foundation is pleased to partner with AHALA/CODENI to offer recipients youth with outstanding participation and academic achievement the opportunity to study an undergraduate or graduate degree at a renowned private university in Mexico or abroad. The Foundation has committed to scholarships totalling $150,000 over the next 7 years. The ‘Super Scholarship” will cover enrollment expenses and tuition, a computer, books and other school supplies, as well as a monthly stipend to cover basic living expenses (rent, utilities, groceries and public transportation) for the duration of the program (one to four years). The recipients will be selected by CODENI Administration from students who have obtained academic excellence and “outstanding participation”. “Only recently has the community’s consciousness been broadened to consider higher education (high school and college) as a possibility for themselves and their children. Until now, higher education possibilities have been limited to public and lower-level private schools. The possibility to attend a renowned private university or study abroad represents a new level of opportunity for our youth. It signifies a major breakthrough for underprivileged, impoverished youth a country controlled by racism and class barriers.” said Danielle Strickland, Founder of CODENI.

Congratulations to the YMCA of Roanoke Valley, they have been awarded $30,000 over 2 years to support
STEM after school support for children of minority and low income.

The primary beneficiaries of the grant will be the 60 children in the first
and second years of the after school program. Additionally, the program will be available to other students
who schools have identified as needing help in these areas. Students will come from Hunt Park Elementary,
Morningside Elementary, Lincoln Terrace Elementary, Fairview Elementary, and Monterey Elementary.
The great need for this grant lies in the fact that without a strong foundation in science and math,
individuals are limited to the education and employment options they receive in life. Research shows that
foundational deficiencies can begin as early as the second grade and early education years are critical to
establishing a path to success. There are tutoring options available, but there is not an organization in the
Roanoke Valley providing STEM related support for low income and minority children after school. Because
of these reasons, the Y feels they are making a sustainable difference. Giving these children a true chance to
succeed in life, that otherwise would not happen, is what the program is about.

Funds will be used to cover the costs of running the 28 week after school program. Items such as staffing,
training and supplies are a part of the itemized budget provided. The programs will begin at the end of the
regular school day and will take place at each school location. The Y staff will travel to each school, which
keeps transportation costs low while keeping the children in a familiar learning environment. A healthy
snack will also be provided to children each day. Funds will be spent during the 2016 and 2017 school years.
To measure success, the Y will meet and review with the teachers of each child in the program. The teachers
will report on each child’s progress and grades.

Congratulations to AHALA/Codeni, the McQuade Foundation is pleased to continue to support your “Life Project Program” for the next 2 years.

The Annual $35,000 grant will benefit 50 teens and women ranging in ages from 13 to 50. The
project will seek individuals who are eager to develop life skills through education and formal employment.
Additionally, the project will benefit these individuals’ families, by the participants setting examples of what
if takes to obtain a formal education and earn a stable income. By investing in these life projects, AHALA
feels all 50 participants are making significant contributions to their efforts of overcoming their dependence
on the street, thus making a sustainable difference on their and their family’s lives.
This project will be a continuation of the 2 year grant AHALA received in 2014 from the foundation. Originally
the project was to target 20 individuals. Due to the success of the project, currently there are 38 teens and
mothers with life projects in CODENI. Continued support will help ensure the projects remain intact and are
successful. CODENI does collaborate with two other organizations in Guadalajara (MAMA and Mairos Don
Bosco). CODENI regularly refers children to both organizations, as they see a need.

Expenses will include 3 full time salaries with benefits for professionals who will coordinate
the projects, provide personal counseling and tutoring, and referrals. Funds will also cover school and job
training, transportation, mirco-financing for personal businesses, and will provide for field trips to recognize
achievements and laptops for participants. Funds will be spent during a 2 year period from January 2017 to
December 2018.
To track progress, each participant in the program will be measured on their monthly, semester and overall
project goals. This information in entered into the CODENI database to evaluate the relevance of the mission
of CODENI. Twice a year the data is analyzed, after which reports are submitted to AHALA. Finally goals of
each participant are considered and analyzed on how well each individual has been accomplishing those
goals.

Congratulations to WfWI, they have been awarded a $25,000 grant. The grant will support WfWI’s target population of marginalized women in conflict affected countries. Countries WfWI supports include: Afghanistan, DRC, Iraq, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan. WfWI’s programs targets women who have limited access to resources, including single heads of households, widows, refugee returnees, and internally displaced persons. Most women served make under $1.25 a day and are illiterate. WfWI has also undertaken men’s engagement activities targeting male family members and male leaders in communities.
WfWI feels they are making a sustainable difference by providing women with access to education, resources, and circles of support through their 12 month economic and social empowerment program. They also encourage male family members and local male leaders to raise their awareness and support for women’s rights. They do this through their men’s engagement training.

Funds will be used to support WfWI’s operations. In 2016, they estimate that 15,000 marginalized women will be enrolled in their 12 month empowerment program. In addition to support of the empowerment program, funds would be used to for needs such as:
* Support of 250 Syrian female refugees in North Iraq
* Provide over 350 male leaders with men’s engagement training in Afghanistan and DRC
* Support WfWI’s research agenda
* Fund a video and audio collection of WfWI’s participants
* Expand WfWI’s electronic data collection to a cloud platform

Funds would be spent within WfWI’s fiscal year ending in December 2016 and would be allocated across all country offices they support.
WfWI measures success by collecting data on indicators tied to four key outcome areas: women are well, women are decision makers, women have social networks and safety nets, and women sustain an income.
WfWI’s monitoring and evaluation program maintains connections with women participants over time and assess changes in their lives. They collect self-reported data on social, health, and economic outcomes at enrollment and at graduation from the 12 month training. They also follow up one and two years after graduation.

Congratulations to R & W, they have been awarded a grant for $25,000 to continue their work with young adults out of the foster care system. R & W was established in 1999 in Morris County, New Jersey. Their mission is to provide young adults who age out of the foster care system in New Jersey with safe housing, educational support, case management, counseling, and life skills in order to empower them toward self-sufficiency.
Without an adequate system in place, studies show that aged out foster care youth are among the most disconnected and statistically vulnerable segment in society. These young adults typically lack the education, job training, confidence, and life skills needed to lead a productive adult life. Each year, approximately 8 to 12% of New Jersey’s foster youth population ages out of state protective care. Most of these individuals are not reunited with their families or placed in a permanent home. National research studies shows that youth who leave the foster care system without a permanent family connection are much more unlikely than other youth to receive a high school diploma and to be unemployed or underemployed.
Many former foster care youth also experience physical and mental health problems stemming from childhoods marked by physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. These youths commonly lack adequate health care as well as the basic life skills and supportive human relationships to sustain them.
R & W is requesting $25,000 for the general operations of their organization. Funding will assist with the costs of delivering their comprehensive services, including safe housing, case management and counseling.

Congratulations to Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada (CCSN), they have been awarded a $30,000 grant for 3 programs. The Foundation is pleased to be a part of your work in these vital areas.
CCSN gives help and hope to people in need regardless of race, religion or creed. CCSN offers more than twenty social service programs to clients from infants to seniors. Within the range of services are the English Language Program (ELP), Immigration Services (IP) and Homeless to Home (HoH).

The goal of ELP is to help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency through education and employment in the shortest time possible. CCSN has developed the ELP curriculum around this goal, knowing that English language acquisition is essential for newly arriving refugees and immigrants to acculturate and achieve economic self-reliance in the United States.

The IP helps individuals with applications for benefits under the United States laws. IP represents individuals in immigration proceedings, as well as assists those who are seeking administrative relief. Most of the women and children assisted are eligible to pursue asylum-based relief before the Immigration Court. They seek this relief as they have been persecuted in their home countries or have a well-founded fear of persecution. Many of these women and children are victims of street gangs and/or domestic violence in their home countries.

CCSN’s HoH Program helps families who are homeless, or in danger of becoming homeless, end the cycle of homelessness by helping them gain self-sufficiency. Homeless to Home families are typically comprised of single mothers with dependent children under the age of eighteen, which represents 86% of families served during fiscal year 2016. The HoH program is able to assist families for up to one year. Eligible clients are able to choose an apartment in a neighborhood where they feel safe and comfortable or where their child/children currently attend school. CCSN assists with finding apartments; working with the housing management companies; helping with moving the family; and working with utility companies. Once housing stability is achieved, CCSN provides intensive case management to assess additional employment barriers and needs.

Congratulations to Center in the Square, they have been awarded a $5,000 grant.
Center of the Square recently launched their Get Schooled! program which utilizes their atrium aquariums, their green-powered rooftop, and the Roanoke Pinball Museum to promote fun and educational learning in Math and Science. The program is available to students through on-site tours and outreach programs.

Funds from a McQuade Foundation grant will be used for sponsorships for the Roanoke Pinball Museum. The museum will offer 500 students in low-income school districts free admission into the museum. In addition to free admission into the pinball museum, students will also get to benefit from the Get Schooled! program.
The need for this grant is due to the fact that in Virginia, Standard of Learning (SOL) scores have become a very important measuring tool for both children and schools. The Get Schooled! program specially gears their teaching towards SOL based learning in areas such as: kinetic energy, speed, force, marine life cycles, and green sustainability. Access to the pinball museum and the Get Schooled! program will help students learn this SOL material.