Bruce Snow
417 Brentwood Blvd.
Lafayette, LA 70503
337-984-8653
Saturday, May 3, 2008
M. Sabina Taj
6470 Freetown Road
Suite 20087
Columbia, MD 21044
Dear M. Sabina Taj,
The Shining Light Foundation (SLF) seeks funding for a unique program to provide musical instruments to K-6 school children of low-income homes. We feel that our program fits well within the Braitmayer Foundation mission, because our initiative is a curricular enhancement to a young student’s development, which promotes positive values.
We are asking for $5,000.00 that is estimated to cover project costs for the academic year 2008/2009. SLF School Band Project assists children in the school-sponsored music programs, by renting instruments and associated materials. Our students are from low-income homes, and would be otherwise left out of a very worthwhile endeavor. School band promotes self-discipline, broadening of interests, association with enthusiastic peers, and a healthy outlook. We are unaware of any other organization that provides this same service to these very young students. Counselors and band directors have informed us that encouraging these very young students to participate in band helps them in reading, math and in all of their classes and boosts their self-esteem.
By providing a grant to SLF, virtually all funds are spent directly on student needs. Because SLF is an all-volunteer organization, our overhead is about 2%. Additional information about SLF can be obtained at our web site: www.shininglightfoundation.org. For further transparency on operation and finances, we can provide a login to the Board Member page. An additional contact person for proposal is Dr. Carolyn French, President. (337) 267-2506.
Sincerely,
Bruce Snow
Who
Is The Shining Light Foundation
The Shining Light Foundation (SLF) is a Lafayette, Louisiana based
philanthropic organization that provides financial assistance to individual
children for academic, cultural and personal enrichment.
The Shining Lights mission is "to provide assistance to individual
children for academic, cultural and personal enrichment so that every child’s
light will shine." The goal of the program is to provide
Musical instruments, equipment and supplies, field trips and tutoring services
to Lafayette Parish public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade
whose families cannot afford to provide them.
Children who participate in music have improved academic success, socialization
and community participation. Applicants are children who would not have musical
instruments, supplies, field trip or tutoring without our help.
The Shining Light Foundation began in 1996 with mission of providing
students from low-income families with the resources they need to let their
light shine. The Shining Light Foundation is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt
501(c)(3) charitable organization governed by a board of directors.
Further information may be obtained at its web site:
www.shininglightfoundation.org.
The Shining Light Foundation is administered by a board of directors of eleven volunteers who meet monthly to approve scholarships. SLF has awarded more than $25,000 to over 500 students. SLF works closely with teachers, counselors and music directors who recommend children of need to the board.
Community Needs Statement
Lafayette Parish suffers from a significant number of low-income
families. The mission of Shining Light Foundation is to serve the
children of these families by providing grants to allow students in K-6 to
participate special activities, such as school band, that would be otherwise
affordable for them.
The Shining Light Foundation
project is an ongoing one but is segmented for each school year. The
project's principal focus is in two areas: 1) contributing to the rental of
musical instruments to allow involvement in school band, and
2) providing the fee for school sponsored field trips. In
addition, SLF offers support to these students for other developmental activities
and materials such as summer tutoring classes and classroom supply kits.
SLF is proud of its very low operating overhead (under 1% for current fiscal
year). The efficiency of its operation is made possible by the dedication
of community volunteers who oversee the running of the foundation -- SLF has no
paid staff.
SLF fills a niche that would be otherwise overlooked, save for the generosity
of some teachers who often pay fees out of their own pocket to benefit some
disadvantaged students. Through the donations to SLF, the children can be
helped without burdening the hearts of their teachers.
The Musical Instrument Project
The current musical instrument project is an ongoing, segmented project to
provide musical instruments, equipment and essential supplies to students
enrolled in Lafayette Parish public schools who are in grades K-6. The
funds being requested are for the 2008/2009 segment in the amount of $5000.
Benefits enjoyed from this project are as follows:
1. Knowledge gained from the activity
2. Bonding with classmates through shared experiences
3. Increased peer group identification and acceptance
4. Increased access to positive role models
5. Enhanced self esteem
6. Potential for cultivation of interests and talents
7. Affirmation of community awareness and support
8. Integration of evacuees with current peer group and community
Recipient students are selected through the recommendations of their teachers,
counselors, or band directors. The sponsor
submits a grant questionnaire for the potential grantee that is reviewed by the
SLF board for approval. The instruments are made available to the children as
rentals from a local music store and payment is made directly to the store
after the instrument is signed out for the child. SLF pays 75% of the rental
cost, the parent or guardian pays 25%.
SLF pays 100% of the maintenance kit.
The Shining Light Foundation's project goals are within the Braitmayer Foundation's focus area. The positive and healthy development of children can only be achieved when every child, regardless of family income, has access to programs that provide peer group acceptance, enhanced self esteem, affirmation from the community, and the potential for cultivation of interests and talents.
Estimated Budget for Academic Year 2008/9
Instrument Scholarships: $5000.00
Non-instrument Scholarships: $1000.00
Operating Expenses: $200.00
Total Expenses: $6200.00
Summary of Expenses for Academic Years 2003 through 2008
Year 2007/8:
Instrument Scholarships: 42 $5306.38
Non-instrument Scholarships: 34 $760.70
Operating Expenses: $140.00
Total Expenses: $6207.08
Year 2006/7:
Instrument Scholarships: 20 $2939.88
Non-instrument Scholarships: 74 $5285.50
Operating Expenses: $272.44
Total Expenses: $8497.82
Year 2005/6:
Instrument Scholarships: 19 $2877.33
Non-instrument Scholarships: 61 $931.50
Operating Expenses: $145.00
Total Expenses: $3953.83
Year 2004/5:
Instrument Scholarships: 38 $3532.5
Non-instrument Scholarships: 71 $1681.62
Operating Expenses: $240.00
Total Expenses: $5454.12
Year 2003/4:
Instrument Scholarships: 8 $828.75
Non-instrument Scholarships: 90 $1189.95
Operating Expenses: $284.45
Total Expenses: $2303.15
