WPN awards $120K in grants to Louisiana volunteer programs

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The Women’s Philanthropy Network (WPN) voted to award two $60,000 grants to Volunteers for Youth Justice (VYJ) and Volunteers of America North Louisiana (VOANLA).

Members pool 20% of their annual dues each year into an endowment fund, now valued at over $600,000, that awards grants to nonprofits in Caddo Parish that aim to improve school readiness and student success. Since its creation, WPN has awarded over $1.7 million to educational initiatives in the community.

VYJ was awarded a $60,000 grant for its School Based Resource Center.

“VYJ’s School Based program is a trauma-informed, relationship-based program designed to provide on-campus support for at-risk students struggling with educational challenges, particularly those related to truancy and trauma,” a press release stated. “Rooted in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) principles, the program focuses on building resilience, strengthening emotional regulation, and restoring a sense of safety for students who have experienced adversity.”

VOANLA’s $60,000 grant was awarded for its Broadmoor STEM Academy Communities in Schools (CIS) and The Lighthouse (LH), serving K-12 students in Caddo Parish.

“The program removes barriers to academic success,” the release stated. “Broadmoor is one of six locations with both CIS and LH co-located on campus. This grant will provide continued, sustaining program support for the CIS and LH programs at the Broadmoor STEM Academy. Without the need to transport LightHouse students after the school day, VOANLA can seamlessly transition into afternoon and evening programming and activities, bolstering its impact on these students.”

For more information about the WPN, go to cfnla.org/wpn.