Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Josh (16) from Spokane, WA, heads up a project called ReProduce81, a food donation program that collects food that students would otherwise throw away. Spokane is a city where a river separates two social classes, and with a student body mixed of the city’s wealthiest and most poor, Josh’s school sits at the heart of that difference. ReProduce81 bridges the gap between his school’s social divide.

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet Reese (17) from San Francisco, CA who co-founded the non-profit Reading Round the Clock to bridge literacy gaps within the Bay Area and international communities. The organization collaborates with 17 clinics and over 30 literacy focused organizations with the overarching goal of educating kids from families that are socioeconomically challenged about the importance of literacy. Besides providing books to read (over 4000 have been donated so far), Reading Round the Clock’s staff tutor several kids and provide various local community resources such as library cards so that kids have a daily supply of books. 

Microgrant recipient Luke (6) from Texas started an Adopt a Grandparent project with his after-school program which serves over 120 at-risk youth on a daily basis. Luke took 13-15 youth on a weekly basis to the local retirement home. They worked directly with “grandparents” on different projects.

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet Emma, Arushi & Emily from Austin, TX whose mission is to provide easy access to healthy foods for low income families while reducing food waste. They made healthy eating a convenient habit by setting up a mini produce station in front of elementary schools at the end of the school day, making it easy for parents to grab a couple of healthy fruits and vegetables before dinnertime when picking up their children from school. The reduced price produce was bruised or “imperfect” by certain grocery store standards but was completely edible, fresh, and sourced sustainably.

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities.  Meet Tyrin (18) from Huntington, WV whose project was the Hoops Family Children’s Hospital Fun Day. In order to provide a fun experience for hospitalized children at the hospital, Ty and volunteers visited with the children to learn more about them outside of their illnesses, made crafts together, and decorated the children’s hospital rooms. 

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities.  Meet Morgan (6) from Bowie, MD who used her microgrant to fund a Birthday Party & Community Service Day Party. This year Morgan dedicated her birthday to the Lighthouse Shelter in Annapolis, MD. At the party she & her guests packed and decorated bagged lunches for the homeless. Morgan also donated some of the presents she received to the shelter. In addition to her birthday party she organized a Community Service Day Party to which she invited her entire 1st grade class, plus other friends, and kids in her family. They packed & decorated more lunch bags. A representative from the Lighthouse Shelter attended both events to discuss the work they do in an age-appropriate manner and explain how Morgan and her friends are helping them. 

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities.  Meet Kaina (17) from Miami whose project is called One Page Closer which she initiated as a junior in high school. Kaina and volunteers supply fully stocked bookshelves/mini-libraries to low income students that include young adult books (that students are more interested in)–not necessarily just academic reading books.

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities.  Meet Isabella from Yorba Linda, CA who used her microgrant to fund a literacy intervention project called “Read a Story, Change a Life.” Using a template developed by Higher Ground Youth and Family Services, a local outreach program servicing at-risk youth, Isabella and volunteers made their project mobile. Incorporating puppet shows about reading and writing and engaging children in storytelling, Isabella hopes to engender a love of reading and writing in young children to promote equal access to literary success.

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities.  Meet Codi from Chicago, IL. He & nine other youths aged 14-18 who are involved in the Youth Leadership Institute used their awards to learn fundamental leadership & facilitation skills. This past summer they used those skills to plan, market and execute 4 community tours and service projects within their communities. The purpose of the Youth Leadership Institute and the tours is to combat issues of isolation and negative stigma associated with the south and westside Chicago neighborhoods by encouraging interconnectivity and empathy across communities.

Karma for Cara Foundation microgrants assist in funding exceptional service projects led by youth 18 years of age and younger working to better their communities. Meet microgrant recipient Quinn (17) from Portland, OR. With the help of other volunteers, Quinn delivered almost 1,000 Operation Tooth Fairy kits to low-income families of preschoolers in the Greater Portland area. She works with local Girl Scout troops to assemble and deliver the kits and partners with WIC to get the kits to those who need them.