NONPROFIT NOTES
Calm Waters announces MidFirst Bank as program sponsor
Calm Waters Center for Children and Families received a contribution from MidFirst Bank on Nov. 16, National Children’s Grief Awareness Day, to help fund a grief support group program.
Calm Waters has provided free grief support to children and adults since 1992. MidFirst Bank’s contribution was partly dedicated to a three-year sponsorship of a children’s support group room where volunteer facilitators lead sessions and help children learn to cope with their losses and understand their emotions. The remainder of the contribution was made in recognition of National Children’s Grief Awareness Day. This day is positioned close to the holiday season, to recognize that it can be an especially difficult time for children.
For more information, go to calmwaters.org.
Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence opens mentoring grant applications
Mentoring programs that serve students in kindergarten through 12th grade can apply for Boren Mentoring Initiative Grants from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The foundation offers two types of grants. Organizations and programs in the first three years of operation can apply for startup grants of $3,000, and existing mentoring programs are eligible for $1,500 opportunity grants to help fund programming, training, materials or other needs. There will be two startup grants and six opportunity grants available this cycle.
The application deadline is Jan. 15. Applications are available at ofe.org.
Girl Scouts, Chesapeake Energy team up to launch fundraising campaign
Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma is teaming up with Chesapeake Energy to launch the “Make Dreams Come True” fundraising campaign to prove programming for girls who want to explore their potential and develop their leadership skills. Every gift will be matched by Chesapeake Energy up to $25,000.
Girl Scouts is open to girls from kindergarten through 12th grade. Through troop activities, community events, camp and council workshops, Girl Scouts can assume leadership roles, hone entrepreneurial skills and cultivate their strengths. For more information or to make a donation, go to gswestok.org.
Student named president of health profession organization state chapter
EDMOND — Edmond North High School senior Maira Arshad is the new president of the statewide chapter of an organization for future health professionals. Arshad is president of Oklahoma Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) for the 2023-24 academic year and attends the Biosciences and Medicine Academy at Francis Tuttle Technology Center.
HOSA is one of several organizations that connect CareerTech students to their respective industries. Competitions are held annually at the regional, state and national levels, and Arshad has twice won first place at the state level.
The Biosciences and Medicine Academy is open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Students take advanced placement classes and prepare for college where they intend to study medicine and related fields. Arshad said she plans to study clinical psychology. For more information, go to okhosa.org.
Preschoolers donate canned goods, funds to local charities
Primrose schools across the metro area donated 4,108 canned goods and $1,281 to Jacob’s Cupboard, Project 66 and the Regional Food Bank by participating in the annual Caring and Giving Food Drive. Throughout the year in classrooms and at home, Primrose children learn and practice positive character traits to help them grow into kind, compassionate adults. The food drive encourages children to complete household chores for allowance money to buy canned goods. Participating schools include Primrose School of East Edmond, Primrose School of Edmond, Primrose School of Northwest Oklahoma City, Primrose School of Norman, Primrose School of Southwest Oklahoma City and Primrose School of Yukon.
For more information, go to primroseschools.com.