$40,000 Grants AWARDED in 2021 First Grant cycle 

 #BeMoreLikeClaire is thrilled to announce $40,000 in grant awards to five non-profit organizations in 2021.

The funds will support projects that are working to respond to child abuse, provide healthy foods to women fighting addiction, support breastfeeding in low-income and marginalized communities, prevent gender-based violence and improve birth outcomes for BIWOC mothers and their babies.              

Funding will go to three Lawrence, Kansas-based projects: the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County, the Community Mercantile Education Foundation’s Growing Food Growing Hope garden at First Step, and Success by 6 Coalition of Douglas County’s Doula Project for BIWOC mothers. Awards will also go to Jana’s Campaign for a state-wide program to prevent gender-based violence in faith-based communities and to Flourish, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Bloomington, Indiana, that works to connect the community to free, high-quality breast-feeding support and education.

“We are so excited to announce the first grants for 2021.​​ Our mission is to carry on Claire's legacy by cultivating the power of collective generosity so that all may live a safe and healthy life. Our donors give what they can, and together they make a transformative difference in many lives,” said Shannon VanLandingham, Claire’s mother and executive director of #BeMoreLikeClaire. “These projects align with our Guiding Principles, which include all people having access to healthy food, comprehensive health care, safe and affordable housing, role models and mentors, relationships free from cruelty, and protecting the earth. It is an honor to support these wonderful organizations as they work toward a world where all may live a safe and healthy life.”


​Child Advocacy Center
​Douglas County, KansaS
​#BeMoreLikeClaire will grant $15,000 to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC), a comprehensive, child-focused program that provides an immediate and compassionate response to a child’s outcry of abuse. The CAC will create a neutral, child-friendly setting to bring multidisciplinary professionals involved in the investigation and treatment of child abuse to the child and family to work in a collaborative approach that results in effective, efficient and child-centered casework. The team will share information and develop coordinated strategies to approach each case- always putting the needs of the child victim first. #BeMoreLikeClaire’s contribution will help cover a portion of the executive director position.
​


Prevention of
​Gender-Based Violence
​in Faith-Based Communities
Jana’s Campaign was awarded $10,000 to conduct a gender-based violence prevention educational training program in faith communities throughout Kansas. Jana’s Campaign was formed in honor of the late Jana Mackey, a University of Kansas law student, and works to provide quality educational programming that prevents gender and relationship violence. Working through faith-based communities in Kansas, the project aims to raise awareness of gender and relationship violence, reduce risk factors while supporting protective measures, engage bystanders, promote healthy and respectful relationships, and encourage the development of new social norms. The funding will be used for training faith leaders and faith communities to understand the use of power and control in violent relationships, types of abuse, domestic and sexual violence dynamics, myths and misconceptions, and understanding abuser behaviors.


​Growing Food Growing
​Hope Garden
​Lawrence, Kansas
The Community Mercantile Education Foundation (CMEF) was awarded $7,800 for its Growing Food Growing Hope Garden on the grounds of First Step at Lake View, a residential addiction treatment center for women and their children. The mission of CMEF is to nourish and inspire personal wellbeing, strengthen community connections, and support sustainable, local food systems. The mission is fulfilled by creating beautiful and productive gardens, developing youth leaders, and using food as a transformative path to health. The 5,000-square-foot garden is maintained by six youth leaders and two adult supervisors. Along with providing a calm and healing environment for the residents and inspiring healthy habits, the garden provides fresh, sustainable produce that is used in the First Step kitchen. By engaging in growing their own food, the residents physically support their work to become whole, healthy women. Contributions from #BeMoreLikeClaire will go toward purchasing plants, seeds and mulch for the 2021 growing season, signage for the garden, an electric weed eater and financial support for student gardeners. 


​Doula Project for BIWOC Mothers
​Lawrence, KansaS
​Success By 6 Coalition of Douglas County will receive $5,000 for its project to develop a network of Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) doulas to provide pregnancy, birth and postnatal services to babies born in Douglas County. Success By 6 connects families with young children with community resources for developmental needs, parenting assistance and daily living needs. The aim of the project is to improve birth outcomes for BIWOC mothers and their babies by changing the culture around the delivery of maternal child health services to better meet the needs of BIPOC families. #BeMoreLikeClaire’s contribution will provide stipends for four doula-supported births. 


Flourish, Inc.’s
​Lactation Support
​Bloomington, Indiana 
Flourish, Inc. will receive $2,200 to assist with the adaptation and sustainability of the Milk Matters program. Flourish, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Bloomington, Indiana, works to connect the community to free, high-quality breast feeding support and education. Through increasing breastfeeding rates, Flourish aims to reduce racial, economic and health disparities while promoting the well-being of families and the community. During the pandemic, the organization shifted from hosting in-person group meetings to providing virtual one-on-one support. Flourish is working to provide virtual group meetings and moderated peer interactions through a secure online platform. Funding from #BeMoreLikeClaire will provide support for a new clinic moderator position, which will be staffed by individuals from lower income and/or marginalized backgrounds who are seeking professional lactation or perinatal training and mentoring at the organization’s virtual clinics.