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Rocky Mountain Power announces new grants to support Utah, Wyoming and Idaho communities this spring

SALT LAKE CITY — Even as COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the country, many communities are still facing challenges from the pandemic and the organizations that support them are still seeing unprecedented demand.

In spite of the odds, local programs that address critical issues such as food insecurity, homelessness, domestic violence, child abuse, elder issues, mental health and community safety have continued to find creative new ways to deliver help quickly and safely, even while facing additional budget constraints.

As part of the company’s commitment to supporting its communities, PacifiCorp Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Rocky Mountain Power, is donating more than $525,000 across the six states it serves. The funding goes to support a total of 209 safety and wellness grants as part of the most recent round of quarterly grants provided by the foundation each year. The next grant cycle is now open through June 15; organizations may apply online.

“We celebrate these heroic organizations that have continued to reinvent and reimagine ways they can help our communities’ most vulnerable,” said Gary Hoogeveen, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power. “Although we see brighter days ahead, Rocky Mountain Power remains deeply committed to supporting the work of these organizations, helping to fortify our communities, so they are strong and resilient.”

The following grants were given to Utah, Wyoming and Idaho organizations providing critical safety and wellness programs:

Utah

Wasatch Front

  • Ability Found to support their refurbishment of wheelchairs, walkers and other durable medical equipment for some of Utah’s most vulnerable citizens.
  • Adopt-a-Native-Elder to support the twice-a-year COVID-19 Food Run, which delivers food, clothing, firewood, medical and other items to ensure native elders can maintain their traditional lifestyle and age in place safely on the land they hold sacred.
  • Alliance House to support the Lunch 2 Go program that will safely serve healthy lunches throughout the year to people suffering from severe mental illness and provide them with a sense of community.
  • American Red Cross in Utah to support disaster cycle services, including helping people prepare for disasters, respond during an event and recover after.
  • Assistance League of Salt Lake City for the Operation Healthy Teeth program that funds urgent dental treatment for children.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah to support this critical, community-based program that pairs children in need with caring, long-term mentors.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake to support the Healthy Lifestyles Youth Program that supplies food and fitness activities to youth, many of whom have experienced escalating mental and physical health challenges and food insecurity during the pandemic. 
  • Cancer Wellness House for the Survivor Wellness’ mental health programs that support cancer patients, survivors, family members and caregivers.
  • The Children’s Center for mental health treatment through the Therapeutic Preschool Program to help give children a strong start in life.
  • Circles Salt Lake to support their program that helps reduce generational poverty through mentorship and building community.
  • Community Nursing Services to support in-home care and COVID-related care for uninsured elderly patients.
  • Community Nursing Services to help them distribute COVID-19 immunizations for the exceptionally vulnerable seniors. 
  • Continue Mission Veterans Recreation Program to provide a variety of organized, outdoor group activities that help improve mental health, build relationships and prevent suicide among military veterans.
  • Eye Care 4 Kids to provide free eye exams and prescription glasses for children from low-income families, which is more critical than ever with increased unemployment due to the pandemic.
  • Family Support Center to help its clinical department respond to increased demands, due to the pandemic, for mental health counseling for children, adolescents, adults and families who have been impacted by trauma and abuse.
  • Family Support Center to provide a deep freezer for LifeStart Village, which helps single parents with children move from homelessness into safe, stable housing and learn to become self-sufficient.
  • Fight Against Domestic Violence to support the Housing First program that helps victims secure safe, stable, long-term housing.
  • First Step House to strengthen the Primary Care Integration program that provides healthcare to the homeless population.
  • Friends of the Salt Lake County Children’s Justice Center—which supports children who are victims of crime—to help provide client emergency funds, crisis intervention booklets, supplies, language interpreters, and building and playground repairs and maintenance.
  • Granite Education Foundation for a portable pantry to help address food insecurity among students, which has intensified during the pandemic and creates a barrier to learning.
  • Homecare and Hospice Association of Utah to create online patient and family caregiver resources hub to support care and reduce isolation, particularly during the pandemic.
  • Impact Mental Health to support free mental healthcare for low-income, uninsured people and to help train future mental health professionals to serve this community.
  • Intermountain Specialized Abuse Treatment Center to help provide mental health treatment for sexual abuse and domestic violence survivors, many of whom are struggling with increasing anxiety and depression during the pandemic.
  • Make-a-Wish Utah to help ensure that critically ill children can still experience the healing hope that a wish brings.
  • Mountainlands Community Health Center to support medical services to all patients, especially those who experience socioeconomic and cultural barriers to receiving care.
  • National Alliance on Mental Health Utah for ongoing training, technical support and video communications to meet an increased need for virtual support groups and classes due to the pandemic.
  • National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome to develop and distribute additional articles and videos that address the most common contributors to child abuse to help new parents and caregivers recognize and respond to these issues to keep babies safe.
  • Prevent Child Abuse Utah to train and mentor K-12 school counselors to become on-campus child abuse prevention specialists, which is especially critical as abuse and domestic violence rates have increased during the pandemic.
  • Rape Recovery Center to provide protective masks, gloves and gowns to ensure in-hospital rape victim advocates can safely comply with COVID guidelines while provide a critical service to victims.
  • The Road Home to support their emergency shelter and resource center aiding homeless members of the community.
  • Safe Harbor Crisis Center to provide specialized mental health services for survivors of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault.
  • The Salvation Army to help strengthen their programs fighting poverty and hunger as the need for assistance has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Senior Charity Care Foundation to provide personal protection equipment so they can safely resume operating mobile medical and dental clinics serving vulnerable seniors.
  • The Sharing Place for grief support groups for youth, who face an increased risk of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.
  • South Valley Sanctuary to provide support services to homeless survivors of domestic violence.
  • Special Olympics for the Unified Champion Schools program that develops inclusive sports, inclusive youth leadership and whole-school engagement to create environments where students with intellectual disabilities feel welcome.
  • Utah Health & Human Rights Project, which serves torture and trauma survivors, to support new programs and services to meet unique needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Utah AIDS Foundation to provide free and low-cost HIV and STI testing, counseling, education, support, referrals and case management, and to adapt programs to safely deliver services during the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Utah Pride Center for the SAGE program that provides activities and programs to increase health, well-being and social connections for LGBTQ elders and for the adult programs that provide connection and support for LGBTQ adults 18-50.
  • Valley Behavioral Health to the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning’s early-intervention programs for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  • Volunteers of America to support Utah’s Youth Resource Center COVID-19 response as it has worked to keep the facility safe and keep homeless youth healthy.
  • Wasatch Adaptive Sports for their Adaptive Biking Program that supports children, adults and veterans with disabilities, who are facing increased isolation and barriers to activity due to the pandemic.
  • Women of the World for the Self-Sufficiency Program’s services to refugee and asylum-seeking women, who are likely to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Park City

  • National Ability Center for program scholarship assistance to help people of all abilities participate in adaptive sports, outdoor adventures and educational programs at the center.
  • Peace House to meet the demand for domestic violence shelter and support services which has increased during the pandemic.
  • People’s Health Clinic to support prenatal ultrasound services to ensure healthy babies.
  • Youth Sports Alliance for sport and healthy lifestyle after-school programs aimed at keeping children from lower-income homes active during the time of COVID.

Northern Utah

  • Family Promise of Ogden to provide homeless families with children immediate shelter, food and clothing as well as long-term assistance to help them become self-sufficient.
  • Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports to provide residents with physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities the opportunity to participate in adaptive winter sports with specially trained instructors.
  • St. Anne’s Lantern House to support homeless individuals in northern Utah with food, shelter and case-management services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Salvation Army Ogden Corps Community Center for food pantry support to help reduce food insecurity.
  • The Wolf Creek Foundation to help military families cope with deployments through weekend retreats and, during the pandemic, virtual programs and workshops.
  • YCC Family Crisis Center for the domestic violence Spanish-speaking program to address a rising need in the Hispanic community.
  • Youth Futures for their homeless youth shelter, drop-in programs, outreach efforts and other services for at-risk and vulnerable young people in the community.  
  • Youth Impact for the Tackling Intergenerational Poverty program that provides disadvantaged youth with afterschool activities, tutoring, community service, athletics, meals, transportation and mentoring.

Cache Valley

  • Common Ground Outdoor Adventures for adaptive adventure cycling, canoeing, climbing, downhill skiing and cross-country skiing clinics for special education classes.
  • Little Lambs Foundation for Kids for COVID-19 emergency distribution of diapers, wipes, hygiene items and cleaning supplies to families needing assistance.

Southern Utah

  • Castle Valley Fire Protection Area to create an educational video and take other steps to strengthen wildfire prevention and mitigation in this community.
  • Moab Free Health Clinic for the purchase of colposcope which would help speed up critical examinations and diagnoses for women possibly facing cancer.
  • Rural Senior Adult Services for their Attach program that provides care and outreach, including grocery deliveries and weekly communication, for homebound and at-risk seniors in rural areas who have been especially isolated during the pandemic.
  • The Salvation Army St. George Outpost to meet the increased need for food pantry services and emergency relocation assistance due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Sanpete Pantry to help respond to increased needs during the pandemic, including feeding school children without access to school meals and providing sanitizers, masks and other safety supplies. 

Wyoming

  • Big Horn County Library for washable armchairs so that the library can operate safely during the pandemic while maintaining a comfortable environment where patrons can read, learn and work.
  • Boy Scouts of America, Greater Wyoming Council for increase virtual Scouting platforms to continue offering programing to the youth of Wyoming.
  • Children’s Learning Center to provide air purifiers for the preschool buildings, which serves special education and early intervention students, to keep the air as clean and safe as possible during the pandemic.
  • CLIMB Wyoming for supporting Sweetwater area low-income single mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic with mental health counseling, connections to food and housing, parenting classes and more to help stabilize families.
  • Community Entry Services for classes for adults with intellectual disabilities and brain injuries, many of whom are isolated due to the pandemic.
  • Compass Center for Families to replace broken equipment in playrooms, art centers and outdoor play areas.
  • Crisis Intervention Services to help provide shelter, transportation and support group services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
  • Crisis Prevention and Response Center to provide crime victims with emergency financial assistance for housing, food, clothing and toiletries.
  • Evanston Hungry Children Weekend Backpack Program to provide children with easy-open, nutritious food to take home over weekends and holidays when, otherwise, they might not have food available.
  • First Stop Help Center to help cover rent and mortgage payments and provide other assistance to Fremont County residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • H.O.P.E. Agency to help meet the rising need for emergency fund assistance that helps abuse victims with transportation, shelter nights, food, rent, fuel, bills, cleaning supplies and other necessary items.
  • I-REACH 2 to provide people with developmental disabilities and brain injuries with ongoing workforce training and a career pathway.
  • Johnson County Family YMCA for a sound system for the primary gym as all fitness classes are transitioned to this larger area.
  • Safe Kids of Central Wyoming for the purchase of car seats and booster seats for families in need.
  • Self-Help Center for painting six safe houses that shelter victims of domestic violence from across Wyoming.
  • Seton House for helping single-parent families with transitional housing, personal and professional development and resources to develop self-sufficiency sills and break the cycle of generational poverty.
  • The Shack for the Life Intervention Initiative, a drop-in program that provides meals and services for at-risk youth and their families.
  • Shoshoni Senior Center for sanitizer and cleaning supplies to help the center continue to safely provide classes, meals and other socialization opportunities for seniors.
  • South Lincoln Hospital District to fight pandemic isolation among residents in the long-term care unit by providing pairs of wi-fi enabled long-distance friendship lamps that light up in rainbow colors with a simple touch from a remote location.
  • Sublette County Sexual Assault and Violence Task Force to provide services to victims and raise awareness that the office is still operating during the pandemic.

Idaho

  • Giving Cupboard for the purchase of a mobile pantry trailer to help respond to a growing need for food assistance throughout Jefferson County.
  • Idaho Foodbank Warehouse to support the mobile food pantry program, which serves food-insecure families in rural communities and has responded to a soaring need during the pandemic.
  • Judicial District VII CASA Program to help serve abused and neglected children with court-appointed special advocate volunteers.
  • McCammon Action Council for the creation of a community garden, greenhouse and toolshed to help food-insecure families learn how to grow their own food.
  • Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital to purchase updated, safer, age-appropriate exercise equipment for residents of the long-term care wing.
  • Shelley Area Senior Center for the purchase and installation of a sanitary kitchen island and new lighting for the kitchen, which provides meals for many area seniors. 

To learn more about the foundation, visit rockymountainpower.net/foundation.