{"id":1851,"date":"2020-12-20T19:26:31","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T00:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nnpa.org\/education\/?p=1851"},"modified":"2023-05-29T13:46:02","modified_gmt":"2023-05-29T17:46:02","slug":"1851","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nnpa.org\/education\/2020\/12\/20\/1851\/","title":{"rendered":"Chick-fil-A Awards $5 Million to Organizations Impacting Communities of Color"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chick-fil-A, Inc. is honored to announce the nonprofit recipients of the 2021 True Inspiration AwardsTM grants. The 34 organizations \u2014 31 of which were nominated by their local Chick-fil-A restaurant Operator \u2014 serve their communities in the areas of education, hunger and homelessness. As 2021 True Inspiration Awards recipients, the organizations will receive a combined total of $5 million in grants to further their community efforts. Each year, Chick-fil-A One Members can participate in the selection process by casting their votes through the Chick-fil-A App. This year, nearly one million people voted through the Chick-fil-A App to select the 2021 True Inspiration Award recipients.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur 2021 awards recipients are tackling a diverse set of issues facing our communities, from fighting hunger to providing equitable opportunities for education and jobs,\u201d said Rodney Bullard, vice president of corporate social responsibility for Chick-fil-A, Inc. \u201cWe know our cities and neighborhoods can only become stronger when we work together to solve hard problems. We\u2019re honored to invest in the futures of these community-based organizations so they can grow their programs and extend their impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2015, the True Inspiration Awards were created to carry on Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy\u2019s legacy of generosity and community service. Since that time, 136 organizations in 31 states and Washington, D.C. have been awarded grants totaling more than $7.1 million. This year, Chick-fil-A quadrupled its annual investment in the True Inspiration Awards, with 34 individual grants ranging from $50,000 to $350,000. In addition to serving in the areas of education, hunger and homelessness, this year\u2019s grantees are either Black-led or impact communities of color.<\/p>\n

From Yonge Street Mission in Toronto to Midtown Education Foundation in Chicago, this year\u2019s 34 True Inspiration Awards recipients span two countries, 18 states and 29 cities. These organizations have positively impacted more than 230,000 individuals through their work. DuBois Integrity Academy, located in Riverdale, Georgia, has been named this year\u2019s S. Truett Cathy Honoree. Each year, the S. Truett Cathy Honoree grant is awarded to an organization that embodies the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Chick-fil-A\u2019s late founder. This year, DuBois Integrity Academy will receive a $350,000 grant for its commitment to enriching the lives of its students through tailored curriculum and programming to meet the intellectual, social, behavioral and emotional needs of every child they serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a whole-child approach to education, DuBois Integrity Academy is making a lasting impact on children and families in our community,\u201d said Chris Smith, Operator of Riverdale Dwarf House, who nominated the organization for the award. \u201cWith this grant, DuBois Integrity Academy will be able to grow the school\u2019s STEM programming, increase educational resources, and set its students on a path for future success.\u201d<\/p>\n

Below is the full list of 2021 True Inspiration Awards grant recipients, each of them working in the areas of education, hunger and homelessness. Learn more about the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards here.<\/p>\n