Y-12 employees support East Tennessee through grants program

  • Posted: Monday, January 6, 2020, 4:28 pm

Representatives from 21 East Tennessee nonprofits recently received grants from the Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC Community Investment Fund at Y-12 National Security Complex. Representatives from 21 East Tennessee nonprofits recently received grants from the Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC Community Investment Fund at Y-12 National Security Complex.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – More than 20 local East Tennessee organizations rang in the new year with additional funding from the Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) Community Investment Fund.

Local residents of all ages will soon receive more assistance and local resources thanks to the employees of Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC.

CNS manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Y-12 has three missions: maintaining the U.S nuclear deterrent, reducing global nuclear threats, and fueling the nuclear Navy.

CNS Community Investment Fund

In total this year, Y-12 employees awarded 21 grants totaling $117,930 to nonprofit organizations in seven East Tennessee counties—Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Hamblen, Knox, Loudon and Roane.

The CNS Community Investment Fund, created in 2014, is funded by CNS and is managed by the East Tennessee Foundation, which serves 25 East Tennessee counties. The CNS Employee Investment Advisory Committee at Y-12 is a group of employees who serve two-year terms and recommends the distribution of funds. The committee allows employees to determine where corporate dollars are invested in their communities.

The employee committee reviewed dozens of grant proposals this year, conducted staff interviews and made site visits before recommending funding based on the committee’s three focus areas for the year: early childhood education, adult workforce development and transition and elder care.

“There’s a good way and a great way to make grants, and CNS does it the great way,” said Michael McClamroch, president and chief executive officer of the East Tennessee Foundation. “They involve their employees, they do their due diligence and they do their research. This changes and improves people’s lives all across the seven counties and that’s something we need to own, be proud of and celebrate.”

Awarding the grants

Grant recipients from the CNS Community Investment Fund were honored on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at a reception for the following projects:

Organization Project summary
Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) Provide direct aid to seniors to foster healthy, independent living and self-sufficiency
ALPS Adult Day Services Provide adults who are memory impaired, have physical problems, or are in need of structure and supervision a homelike setting
Blount Memorial Foundation Purchase technology for the Blount Memorial Total Rehabilitation Springbrook Pediatric Clinic to use during treatment sessions of children with autism, poor motor control, poor balance, language deficits or other deficits
Cancer Support Community East Tennessee Support and foster a support community through an educational program series, Take on Cancer Together, for individuals and family members impacted by the disease
Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Support the Samaritan Place, which offers emergency, transitional and supportive housing to seniors who are facing a housing crisis
Centro Hispano de East Tennessee Provide assistance, English language and workforce development trainings to equip students with the necessary tools to obtain and retain gainful employment
Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking Equip survivors of human trafficking in our community with coping mechanisms and avenues of improved mental and physical health
COMPASSion Counseling Provide clinical and educational services to individuals who experience mental illness disabilities in hopes to increase one’s ability to obtain and retain employment and break the cycles of abuse and incarceration
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Support the “Grow with Me” program that serves those discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Emory Valley Center Expand access to specialized early childhood education for children with special needs and enhance pre-school curriculum for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental delays.
Friends of Literacy Provide low-literacy and under-educated adults with the knowledge they need to be effective employees
Keystone Adult Day Program Support elders living with dementia through therapeutic activities that promote meaning and purpose
Knoxville Family Justice Center Assist survivors of elder abuse or neglect by providing them with immediate, accessible, and effective specialized care
Knoxville Leadership Foundation Equip low-income, disconnected 16-24 year-olds with education and industry-recognized credentials while simultaneously addressing barriers to their success
Ministerial Association Temporary Shelter (MATS) Provide homeless families and individuals soft skill rehabilitation, support and structure to help them find permanent housing and sustainable income
Mid-East Community Action Agency / Roane Imagination Library Purchase and mail over 2,000 quality, age-appropriate books to Roane County children
Roane County Schools Create a sensory room that will provide a therapeutic space with a variety of equipment for all students, including special needs students, with personalized sensory input
Roane State Community College Foundation Provide funding for industry-recognized certifications for adults pursuing college certificates or associate of applied science degrees
Senior Citizens of Campbell County, Inc. Provide daily hot meals to home bound seniors and disabled persons
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding Support program for veterans with disabilities working in partnership with horses
The Muse Knoxville Purchase a “Bubble Tube Corner” exhibit that will provide a vital multisensory experience for all children that will promote cognitive, social and emotional development and growth.

For more information, please contact Jan Elston, Vice President for Competitive Grant Programs for East Tennessee Foundation, at (865) 524-1223, or via email at jelston@etf.org or contact Jason Bohne, CNS Director of Communications and Public Affairs, at (865) 241-1400 or via email at Jason.bohne@cns.doe.gov.

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