SUCCESS STORY: Pro Deo Youth Center

This year marked an important new milestone for Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation—the Foundation has now officially distributed over $1.1 Million in funding in grants and scholarships since 2003!

Every year, GLSHF partners with local organizations who are making a positive—and healthy—impact on the community. In 2016, GLSHF distributed $74,500 in grant funds to 12 grant awardees.

This year, Pro Deo Youth Center was one of the grant recipients. Their $7,000 grant is focused on supporting the needs of local youth. Pro Deo serves teens in grades 7 through 12, providing after-school and weekend programming to help young men and young women grow into productive adults while enjoying their teen years in a safe and fun environment.

Pro Deo requested funding so that teens who needed special support and care could thrive.

Pro Deo Caseworker, Jacqueline Mace said, “The Greater Lee’s Summit Health Care Foundation Grant has allowed us to expand our Casework Program by double. Through the program we are able to identify individualized need and set personalized goals which focus on the physical and mental health of the teens in our program.”

In 2016, the Pro Deo Caseworker was able to spend quality time with individual teens and look deeper into possible ways to help each of them.

Mace said, “We have been and continue to research and find counseling services, health services, and/or family services applicable to each teen’s need. Without this program, our assistance would not be as direct and our impact would not be as great.”

Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation is dedicated to promoting health and well-being in the Lee’s Summit area.

The Grant Cycle for new applications is open now for local nonprofits with health-focused programs to apply for funding. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2016. Awardees will be announced in January 2017.