CLA Foundation Changes Lives With $749,000 in Awards for 2016

February 28, 2017 — The CLA Foundation has completed its second 2016 grant cycle by awarding $449,000 to 26 organizations engaged in job training, education, and career development. Together with the $300,000 awarded to 17 organizations earlier in the year, the CLA Foundation has granted a total of $749,000 to 43 recipients in the past year.

“This has been a monumental year for the CLA Foundation,” said Jan Kruchoski CLA Foundation board chair. “We received nominations for some amazing organizations that do incredible work, but the committee believes these 23 best fulfill the Foundation’s mission. Thanks to the generous support of our people we will continue changing lives through education, employment, and entrepreneurship.”

The 2016 grantees, all nominated by CLA personnel and selected by a committee of CLA team members, match the Foundation’s mission: To promote and support diverse individuals and organizations by connecting networks, advancing work readiness, and creating career opportunities.

Grantees for the second half of 2016:

Grant Category	Grant Recipient (Location)
Education and Youth Development	Elevate Orlando (Maitland, Florida) Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc. (Milwaukee) Kids U (Garland, Texas) Northside Achievement Zone (Minneapolis) Peoria Public Schools Foundation, Horizon Club (Peoria, Illinois) Project GRAD Akron (Akron, Ohio) Somerville Mathematics Funds (Somerville, Massachusetts) Strong City Baltimore (Baltimore) Towers of Excellence Foundation (Maryland Heights, Missouri) YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts (New Bedford, Massachusetts)
Employment and Career Building	Byte Back (Washington, DC) Dress for Success Charlotte (Charlotte) The Ladder Alliance (Fort Worth, Texas) Life’s Kitchen (Boise, Idaho) New Sector Alliance, Twin Cities (Minneapolis) TranZed Apprenticeship Services (Baltimore) Youth Link (Minneapolis)
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development	Corcoran Neighborhood Organization (Minneapolis) Initiative Foundation (Little Falls, Minnesota) Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Minneapolis)

About the CLA Foundation

The CLA Foundation does not accept grant proposals directly from outside organizations. All grant nominations originate with CLA team members — each year CLA team members are invited to nominate organizations they believe are making a difference in their community and match the foundation’s mission. The CLA Foundation does that by granting in three categories:

Education — A focus on education and youth development programs that prepare today’s students to thrive in tomorrow’s world

Employment — A focus on career-building programs that connect individuals with life changing opportunities

Entrepreneurship — Programs that help the entrepreneurs and small business owners that support us and our communities

The CLA Foundation then reviews all team member grant nominations and invites organizations that best match our mission to submit a grant application.

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About CLA

CLA exists to create opportunities for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. With nearly 9,000 people, more than 130 U.S. locations, and a global vision, we promise to know you and help you. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is an independent network member of CLA Global. See CLAglobal.com/disclaimer. Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.