Redwood School & Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
71 Orphanage Road
Fort Mitchell, KY 41017
Redwood Improvement Project
Grant Application:
The focus of this grant request is the “Redwood Improvement Project,” for which we are seeking grants to address various renovation, furnishing, and other needs at Redwood. Improvements we need to complete include: 1) Renovating children’s program rooms that have not been upgraded significantly in over 30 years; 2) Replacing a 3,375 sq. ft. section of our roof; 3) Installing new HVAC units on our roof; 4) Replacing windows at the end of their useful lives in our nursing area; 5) Repairing and paving one of our parking lots; and 6) Installing new flooring in our Therapeutic Intervention program area. A $50,000 grant will be used toward those improvements that are the highest priority at the time of the grant award, and that benefit Redwood’s child and youth clients.
Our original goal was to address various renovation, furnishing, and other needs around Redwood’s 86,000 sq. ft. facility.
Grant Evaluation Report:
Supply chain issues delayed part of the project. We are preparing to begin renovations supported by other funders who gave us grants late in fiscal year 2022 (7/1/21 – 6/30/22). Even so, thanks to the generosity of the Dater Foundation plus other funders, we still able to complete or start a substantial number of improvements around our facility despite COVID-19 and supply chain issues.
Results:
Using funds received from multiple sources along with in-kind donations and other funds, Redwood was able to complete extensive flooring installations, install 3 new HVAC units, and renovate a program room in the Early Care and Education Program. Dater Foundation grant funds were used toward HVAC equipment ($8,790) and the rest will be fully expended by 9/15/22 on new flooring in our Therapeutic Intervention Program area.
Redwood has been carrying out and managing the project within the funding available to us. The flooring installation underway now was delayed due to COVID and materials not being available for several months. Dater Foundation grant funds will be fully expended by mid-September 2022. The flooring is expected to be fully installed by the end of this month and the invoices received and paid by mid-September.
Mia is an example of someone who has benefited from the Redwood Improvement Project and your grant. She was born two weeks premature. Diagnosed with Williams Syndrome and Aortic Valve disease, she underwent two open heart surgeries.
When Mia started therapy at 5 months of age, she was not rolling or playing with toys. So, her physical and occupational therapists worked with her at Redwood in her childcare program. She also received some occupational therapy in her home, which allowed her parents to be present and better able to learn strategies to help Mia.
Now, at age 2, she is pulling to stand, walking with one hand held, moving independently around her environment, and reaching for and playing with toys.
To encourage an interest in play, Mia is using some adapted toys with switches on loan from our Assistive Technology Resource Center. All of these services in combination have helped Mia gain new developmental skills, increase her abilities, and shine bright.
Also, as you may already be aware, Redwood is now Easterseals Redwood (ESRW), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was just formed as a result of Redwood and Easterseals Serving Greater Cincinnati merging on 8/1/22. Redwood and Easterseals are maintaining original separate legal names, federal EINs, and 501(c)(3) letters through 2022 until our financials and legal status can be combined by 2023.
The new organization helps secure a brighter future for individuals with disabilities, veterans, and those facing economic challenges in our region by enhancing capacity to bring more services to people on both sides of the Ohio River. This combination builds a bridge over a river that has traditionally separated the best of both organizations from being offered on the other side. By combining, we meet people where they are with a full range of services to help them reach their full potential.
Easterseals Redwood is an affiliate of the international Easterseals organization. ESRW can draw on nearly 100 years of experience, resources and best practices to better help those we serve. Although we are an affiliate of an international organization, we retain financial and programmatic autonomy.
Website:
http://www.redwoodnky.org Amount: $50,000
Date: September 2021
