The Youth Grant Allocation Board of The Community Foundation of South Alabama has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Southwest Alabama Regional School for the Deaf and Blind at a ceremony held on May 6, 2012, at the Museum of Mobile.
The funding will support the Southwest Alabama Regional School for the Deaf and Blind, Multi-Sensory Room. This special room creates a supportive environment designed to bridge physical, cognitive, and sensory barriers through the use of specialized equipment such as a vibro-acoustics platform, waterbed, mirror ball, vibro-ball pool, mirrored walls, and a projector. The Multi-Sensory Room will allow the School to assist multi-disabled, autistic, hearing- and visually impaired students. These students will learn fine motor skills to improve handwriting and develop increased attention spans through various room stimuli. Program participation will also improve social integration, quality of life, and neurological development for these children.
The Youth Grant Allocation Board of The Community Foundation of South Alabama is a group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors, nominated by public and private high schools in Mobile and Baldwin counties, who are given the opportunity to learn about community needs and grantmaking. Youth Grant Allocation Board participants are taught to assess the deficiencies within their community; develop an initiative to meet specific needs; review grant applications; and select nonprofit recipients for grants.
The 2012 Youth Grant Allocation Board Class consisted of 23 students that represent 12 public and private high schools in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Members include: Mary Margaret Bledsoe, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School; Bridgette Bolton, Cottage Hill Christian Academy; Faith L. Creal, Alma Bryant High School; Robert W. Cronk III, Baker High School; Sarah E. English, Daphne High School; Molly E. Fortner, Cottage Hill Christian Academy; Abby Grimm, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School; Samaiyah Hampton, John Leflore High School; Andrika Harmon, B. C. Rain High School; Brylee J. Hatcher, Faith Academy High School, Maegan C. Lynch , Citronelle High School; Chason M. Milner, Spanish Fort High School; Kathryn L. Musall, Fairhope High School, Jasmine Patterson, Blount High School; Seth Polansky, St. Paul's School; Ashton Prouty, Spanish Fort High School; Kevin Sanders, Faith Academy High School; Kayla N. Warner, Daphne High School; and Kendall Williams, Citronelle High School.
Board members recognized for 100% attendance were Faith Creal and Jasmine Patterson. Members that received recognition for three years of service included Samaiyah Hampton and Jasmine Patterson. Mister and Miss YGAB of the Year Awards were bestowed upon Mister Chason Milner and Miss Jasmine Patterson. The criteria for award selection included attendance, assignments, fundraising, leadership, and participation.