PoWeR! Book Bags
Final Grant Report for
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
Tax ID Number:
81-2406342
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Kara
Gregory
P.O. Box 533, Suttons Bay, MI, 49682
Address:
Email:
231-343-0255
Phone Number:
Project Name:
Empowering Women and their Children at MIHP in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties
Project start and end dates:
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Amount Granted From Hestia:
$
3000
Project results and Impact
How many girls/women have been served by the project during this project year?
A total of 170 families were served throughout the past year during home visits for the Maternal Infant Health Program in 2024/2025. This includes 269 children and 170 moms for a total of 439 mothers and children served. It would be estimated that of the 269 children, 50% are male and 50% are female. This means approximately 304 women and girls were served with this program.
Goal of the Project
Did you meet your program goals for the grant period?
If yes, how do you know? Please describe any program evaluation you use:
If no, please describe current barriers and how you are working to overcome them:
We tracked the number of books and PoWeR! Literacy bags delivered into the homes. In this past year we delivered 2,629 books and 269 PoWeR! Literacy Bags.
Our partners at the health department who were the home visitors were given a survey in late August. They reported overall excitement and enthusiasm for our program by both their clients (moms and children) and themselves. They reported moms and children asking for books. Home visitor observations and reports from families to the home visitors were that reading was happening more often overall in the home. Moms expressed joy that they were able to have choices of books to read and not 'have to read the same book over and over again'.
Do you have a story of how your program positively changed participant's situation, behavior, or knowledge?
If so, please share it:
One MIHP home visitor shared the story of a family in which the mom was not interacting with her child. Grandma greeted the home visitor and explained the situation. When she was offered the choice of a book for the baby, Grandma refused, telling the MIHP professional, "We don't read."
But the baby grabbed one of the books and wouldn't let go so the book was left with the family. On the next visit, Grandma shared that mom was reading the book with the baby. Grandma was reading with the baby. AND...could they have more books?
The trajectory for that family has changed. Interactions and literacy have been established!
This story is real. You have helped us have a tremendous impact not only on this child but on many mothers and their children. Thank you for being our partners for good in the world!
Sustainability
Will this project continue?
If so, how will it be funded?
If not, why not?
We will continue to seek grants and private donations. We are growing our volunteer corp. We established an annual fundraiser in October. Through this, our visibility is increasing. This is a necessity for children. Next to food, children must have nourishment for their brains AND their early relationships. We are confident we will find a way to continue our impactful work.
Public Relations
How did you publicize this grant?
Please list any examples.
We published a thank you in the Weekly Choice Newspaper. We listed it on our website. It is posted in our Volunteer Center on our 2024 grantors. We have shared it on our social media and newsletters. We are very grateful.
Summary Comments
Hestia Women's Giving Circle has been a wonderful partner with us to support the early relational health, literacy development, and overall positive well being for moms and their children. We are making a difference with every single PoWeR! tool (books, bags, language toys, etc.) offered to these families during the home visits. Being able to send our materials into the homes of families in need along with the support of our partners from the health department who are demonstrating and scaffolding the uses of these impactful tools is phenomenal. You are helping us to make lasting positive changes in the lives of these children and their moms, empowering all to have a better today and tomorrow. THANK YOU!
Grant Final Budget Form
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