Fresno State students in the humanics Students4Giving Philanthropy Project are awarding three $8,000 grants to local community organizations. The grants will be officially presented by students at a reception at 10 a.m. Monday, May 12, at Arte Americas (1630 Van Ness Ave.) in Fresno.

Dr. Matthew Jendian, director of the Humanics program, said the Students4Giving project is designed to give students relational, experiential, applicable and learner-centered experience, while also supporting the community. “Humanics at Fresno State engages students, alumni, faculty, residents and community volunteers, local professionals and community benefit organizations across California’s San Joaquin Valley.”

After reviewing proposals, conducting site visits and holding in-person interviews, Students4Giving awarded funds to the Fresno Arts Council, GRID Alternatives-Central Valley and Good Neighbor Center, Inc. These organizations were singled out for working to address issues related to education, the environment and poverty alleviation.

Fresno Arts Council will use the grant to train six local artists and develop lesson plans that align with K-12 objectives. GRID Alternatives-Central Valley plans to install solar electrical systems on the rooftops of three qualifying GRID Alternatives Single Family Affordable Solar Homes, saving families up to 80 percent on their electrical utility bills. And Good Neighbor Center, Inc. will use the grant to enhance its data collection, registration and reporting technology to serve more individuals and provide additional protein to families in the Pinedale and possibly the Sanger area, especially during the holidays.

Each organization will receive a check for $8,000 — $6,210 to support the specific project and

$1,790 to fund the placement of two Fresno State student interns. Each site will host a humanics intern to assist with project implementation and a mass communication and journalism intern who will help document and promote the project.

Each student will earn a $1,500 scholarship for their 150-hour internship, funded by a matching grant from the Radin Community Service Scholarship Program at the Fresno State Foundation.

Humanics Students4Giving Grants are made possible with support from the Whitney Foundation, Fresno Regional Foundation, Geil Family Fund, Philip T. Manoogian Memorial Education Fund, Kennel Bookstore and individual donors.

For more information, please contact Justin Kamimoto at 408.857.3524 or justinkamimoto@mail.fresnostate.edu.

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