The Tracy Family Foundation has named four recipients of its pilot “Challenge What’s Possible Innovation” grants that will be receiving funds from a pool of $360,000
Groups pitched “visionary projects” to the Tracy Family Foundation that address unmet needs and would benefit education, families, mental health or youth
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“These projects are not simply expanding existing services. They are challenging traditional approaches in our region, testing new models, and creating opportunities to learn what is possible when strong organizations are given the space and support to innovate,” said Dan Teefey, president of the foundation
One of the recipients is Beardstown school district, which wants to embed the River Futures Opportunity Lab into the district as a learning model “that connects career readiness, youth leadership, wellness, belonging, and environmental stewardship through hands-on experiences.”
“By embedding the program into the school day and leveraging the region’s natural and agricultural assets, the model is designed to remove barriers to participation and create a framework that can be adapted by other rural schools,” the foundation said
Boyd Healthcare Services will also be receiving funding so it can test “Brighter Connections,” an intervention program meant to help students with neurodevelopment challenges
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“The pilot will pair school-based implementation with staff training and clinical research. The pilot will take place in the North Greene School District and includes the potential to produce a published study, creating a foundation for broader adoption and replication,” according to the Tracy Family Foundation
Another group receiving funding will be the Advocacy Network for Children. The organization wants to create a dedicated volunteer recruitment and training position for Court Appointed Special Advocates. The foundation said the need for volunteer training is “a long-standing challenge across the CASA network” and hopes that the training could become a blueprint for other regions
A literacy program through Bella Ease called “Literacy Matters” is the final of the four groups receiving this inaugural funding. It’s described as a “unique partnership” between Bella Ease, Literacy Advocates of West Central Illinois and Cornerstone Foundations for Families
“Literacy Matters will combine evidence-based reading instruction with family support and mental health services,” according to the foundation. “This innovative three-pronged approach recognizes that literacy challenges are often connected to broader family and mental wellbeing needs.”
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The Tracy Family Foundation said it will be working closely with the grant recipients over multiple years to track their progress and outcomes. Any continued funding will be determined based on the groups’ “progress, findings, and evolving needs.”
“We know innovation involves uncertainty, and that is exactly why this program exists,” Teefey said. “These organizations demonstrated the vision, expertise, partnerships, and commitment needed to turn ambitious ideas into real opportunities for children, families, schools, and communities.”
