Over the past four years the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation has supported various initiatives across the country including:
The Sam Lamantia Founder’s Award was established in 2019 and is available exclusively for the members of the National Courage House Support Network for Kids. The first prize of a $10,000 grant and the second prize of a $1,500 grant is awarded annually to two facilities to support a specific program that directly benefits the well-being of the children they serve.
2023 Winners
1st Prize
2023
Firefly Children & Family Alliance (Indianapolis Courage House)
The Indianapolis Colts Courage House, Firefly Children & Family Alliance, was selected as this year’s recipient to support their Children’s Shelter Renovation of the Gene Glick Family Support Center. The children’s shelter works to prevent abuse and neglect, providing emergency care to nearly 300 children aged 0 to 17 years old annually in the Indianapolis region.
The facility provides both crisis intervention and respite services to families including homelessness, physical or mental health emergencies, or domestic violence without alternative support systems. The renovation will expand the facilitiy’s ability to assist more children in need by doubling the number of bedrooms (8 to 16), adding and upgrading restrooms and re-organizing the layout to include more space for education, art, sensory time, therapy, medical care and storage.
2nd Prize
Maryville Crisis Nursery (Chicago Courage House)
The second prize was awarded to the Chicago Bears Courage House, Maryville Crisis Nursery, which provides immediate, around-the-clock assistance to children and families during a crisis or stressful situation that threatens the safety and well-being of the entire family. The grant will assist in funding their Parent’s Café Program, with monthly gatherings, providing a safe space for parents to discuss their experiences, learn new parenting strategies, and develop social connections with other parents of young children.
2022
- Disaster Relief – Neighbor to Family (JAX)
- Crisis Nurse Playground – Providence House (CLE)
2021
- Therapeutic Lodge Restoration – Gateway Longview (Buffalo, NY)
- Reading Program – Rickey Jackson Community Hope Foundation (NO)
2020
- Foster Care Recruitment Program – Children’s Home Society (CAR)
- Therapeutic Nursery Refurbishment – Children’s Crisis Treatment Center (PHI)
2019
- Music Therapy Program – Childhaven (SEA)
- Mobile Computer Lab – A Place Called Home (LAR)
