Recognizing seven community service groups for their efforts to support families in low-income communities, the Annie E. Casey Foundation is awarding the organizations $3.5 million in grants over the next three years.

The organizations are the first recipients of the foundation's new "Families Count: The National Honors Program". Each year during Thanksgiving week, the Casey Foundation will announce new honorees in an effort to build public support for programs that help low-income families.

Each of the first seven winners will receive $500,000 over the next three years. The awards will be officially presented early next year.

The inaugural 2000 Awards winners include:

• Abriendo Puertas, Miami, Fla.
• Alliance Schools Initiative of the Interfaith Education Fund, Austin, Tex.
• Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Community Action Project of Tulsa County, Tulsa, Okla.
• Kaleidoscope, Inc., Chicago, Ill.
• Parent Services Project, Inc., Fairfax, Cal.
• Project Match, Chicago, Ill.

"Quite simply, these organizations make a positive difference every day," Casey Foundation President Douglas W. Nelson said. "They exemplify the Casey Foundation's efforts to build strong families in tough neighborhoods by providing the resources and support to help families and their kids succeed."

Full text of the article is currently found at:
http://www.aecf.org/familiescount/press.htm