The most rewarding gifts we receive are stories about the impact of grants made through CCF. One grantee, Clap Your Hands (CYH), specializes in making items for children and young adults who have physical limitations, autism or sensory issues. The work put in is 100 percent volunteer-run.
This year, Clap Your Hands received $5,500 in funding from the Charles Webb-Ed Croft Endowment, which supports nonprofits serving children with special needs Fund. They shared with us a breakdown of how they used their funding to make an impact in their community a different way to say “thanks” for their grant.
The Webb-Croft grant allowed the nonprofit to purchase 1,200 pounds of pellets, a six-month supply. After hearing about the grant, Clap Your Hands’ pellet supplier, Polly Pellets, personally delivered the pellets and donated another 150 pounds for free. This saved CYH $400 in shipping fees because the pellet supplier is located in Tennessee. Funding also allowed the organization to buy six more sewing machines for $1,200 and another $2,300 worth of materials to make products.
An industrial sewing machine was one of the six purchased. This machine allows CYH to make larger weighted blankets up to 20 pounds.
Clap Your Hands donated 1,100 therapeutic products within the Tri-County throughout the year. CCF’s funding led to the creation and donation of 500 therapeutic products to local families, schools and therapists. This is 45 percent of all of the products donated.
The impact of Clap Your Hands’ products is evident in children’s ability to work and play after receiving them. For example, here is one student’s work before and after receiving his weighted vest. Before, he could not complete his name or follow written or verbal instructions.
Two days after receiving his weighted vest, he was able to follow directions, stay in the lines and improve his penmanship.
As a philanthropic organization, we love to see the direct impact our funds make on nonprofits and the community at large. We thank Clap Your Hands for reaching out and keeping us informed.
If you want to share your grant impact story, share it with the relevant program officer, or contact Monica Tanouye at monica@coastalcommunityfoundation.org.
