The Knoxville Utilities Board has awarded funds totaling $220,000 to 20 nonprofits in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority through Community Care Fund grants.

“These nonprofits help people in the KUB service area by providing resources to support healthcare, education, diversity and inclusion, hunger, housing, and workforce development and training,” said Tiffany Martin, vice president and chief customer officer at KUB. “The grants help key programs in our community and align with KUB values.”

Both KUB and TVA provided $110,000 each for the grants, which went to the following organizations and programs:

• East Tennessee Freedom Schools: A program to reduce learning loss in summer.

• InterFaith Health Clinic: Medical, dental, vision, and mental healthcare for low-income patients. 

• Knoxville Academy of Medicine Foundation: Health, housing, and hunger assistance for low-income and minority households.

• MEDIC Regional Blood Center: Funding to increase sickle cell awareness and increase the diversity of the donated blood supply.

• Mental Health Association of East Tennessee: Support for mental health care services in underserved communities.

• Special Olympics Tennessee, Greater Knoxville Area: Expansion of the number of sports and competitions offered, and increased training programs for adults with intellectual disabilities.

• Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking: Funding to support human trafficking survivor support programs including emergency food and clothing, daily living supplies, toiletries, first aid items, survivor stipends, and more.

• Raising a Voice: Funding for the expansion of the East Knoxville Women's Center to provide extended medical care, food services, and job training opportunities for survivors of sexual abuse.

• The Change Center: Support for youth workforce development and early job opportunity programming.

• CROSS Food Ministry: Funding to purchase food from Second Harvest of East Tennessee for food insecure residents of Sevier, Knox, and Blount Counties.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley: Funding for the YouthForce program that provides job readiness training, internship opportunities, and technical training for teens.

• Clinch-Powell RC&D: Support for quality crisis housing counseling and financial coaching for 25 households.

• FOCUS Ministries: Funding for therapeutic homes and comprehensive support for women reintegrating from correctional facilities.

• Spark: Funding for the Making Sparks and Spark Ignition programs, which provide innovative solutions to help people with disabilities lead independent, creative, and productive lives.

• UUNIK Academy: Funding for the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Innovation (STEAMI) Summer Institute, a program dedicated to educating and empowering African-American youth between ages 5 and 10.

• Knoxville Family Justice Center: Assistance for domestic abuse survivors.

• Care Cuts: Food and clothing for people experiencing homelessness.

• Knoxville Community Media: Support for youth education in video art to improve confidence, mental health, and wellbeing.

Learn more about the Community Care Fund on the KUB website or by emailing [email protected].