In Memory of Jack and Ethel Keller
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News Release April 8, 2008
For more information, contact:
J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc.
Mary Harp-Jirschele
(920) 720-7872
mharp-jirschele@jjkeller.com
jjkellerfoundation@jjkeller.com
 
U.S. Oil and J. J. Keller foundation funds combine to combat poverty in Fox Valley and Green Bay.
 
NEENAH, WI (June 8, 2008) – The Basic Needs Giving Partnership — a joint initiative of the U.S. Oil Open Fund for Basic Needs and the J. J. Keller Foundation Inc. — has announced its grant recipients in Green Bay and the Fox Valley. The partnership, which was created to target the root causes of poverty and homelessness, provided $886,000 in grants in the Fox Valley and $616,500 in Green Bay.

"When you have collaboration between organizations that are trying to accomplish the same goal, you can make it twice as effective with twice the funding," said Mary Harp-Jirschele, executive director of the J. J. Keller Foundation. "It was rewarding to see all these non-profits come forward in a collaborative environment.'

In the Fox Valley, the lion's share of the grants - $300,000 - was given to the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley and the Housing Partnership of the Fox Cities for a collaboration called Housing First.

The Housing First program utilizes a case manager to plug the gap in homeless programs for those ineligible for other temporary shelter or transitional housing due to substance abuse or mental health problems.

Other Fox Valley grant recipients are:
  • Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley, YMCA of the Fox Cities and the Appleton Area School District, $295,000
  • Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley and LEAVEN, $180,000
  • CAP Services, $45,000
  • Housing Partnership of the Fox Cities, $15,000
  • Rebuilding Together-Fox Valley, $15,000
  • Samaritan Counseling Center of the Fox Valley, $15,000
  • Best Friends of Neenah-Menasha, $9,000
  • American Red Cross-Outagamie Chapter, $7,500
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox Valley Region, $5,000
In Green Bay, a collaborative effort to help the mentally ill who are homeless or affected by domestic violence in Brown County, will receive $300,000 over the next three years. The project is called MORE, which stands for Mental-health Outreach Resource Expansion. The American Foundation for Counseling Services is leading the effort with its partners, including Golden House, House of Hope, NEW Community Clinic, NEW Community Shelter, St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter and the Bellin Psychiatric Center.

Other Green Bay grant recipients included:
  • Dental Service Expansion Project, $225,000
  • Court Appointed Special Advocates of Brown County (CASA), $25,000
  • Family Services of Northeastern Wisconsin, $25,000
  • Integrated Community Services, $25,000
  • NEW Community Clinic, $15,000
  • Wisconsin Interfaith Needs Response, $1,500
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership, which is run though the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, will expand to the Oshkosh area next year through the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.