Four North Dakota nonprofit organizations with projects serving at-risk individuals have been named second-round recipients of charitable NDAD’s 2023 Gibbens Memorial Grants.

NDAD awards at least one Gibbens Memorial Grant annually of up to $5,000 to an agency/organization to be used for a health, welfare, social service or educational purpose for at-risk populations.

Second-round grants, created in memory of late NDAD co-founders and program leaders Faye and Ron Gibbens, have been awarded to:

Altru NICU and Pediatric Developmental Clinic –  Gibbens grant money will be used to this multidisciplinary specialists program to support at-risk toddlers and infants with vital tools aimed at helping to overcome development obstacles. Tools include such items as specific feeding implements, bottle systems, bottle nipples and positioning pillars. “We’re thrilled” about the NDAD grant award, said Brittany Caillier, Altru Health Foundation director of philanthropy. “Your support will make a tremendous difference for children and families across the region who are battling developmental and growth challenges.”
Online: https://www.altru.org; https://facebook.com/altruhealthsystem/

North Dakota Brain Injury Network – The NDAD grant will provide lunch for participants in weekly revolving-topic Lunch and Learn trainings, currently held at Fargo’s Downtown Engagement Center. The sessions help provide strategies to manage symptoms dealt with by brain-injury survivors who experiencing homelessness.  “We’re very excited (and) very thrilled to be able to keep this project going” and in fact continue its prospects for expansion, said NDBIN’s Carly Endres, senior project coordinator. “
Online: https://www.ndbin.org; https://facebook.com/ndbin/

TR 4 Heart and Soul – Gibbens grant money will help with expansion of the Bismarck-based nonprofit’s adaptive sensory equine trail course. Additional chimes and puzzle boxes, plus fruit trees, will be added that are accessible to horse-riding participants with mobility and cognition challenges. “We’re ecstatic,” NDBIN founder Katie Oakland said. “We’re really excited about using the funds to empower individuals with disabilities and to partner with you on this.”
Online: https://www.facebook.com/tr4heartandsoul

Box of Balloons - Fargo – Grant money will be used by the 100-percent, volunteer-driven charity to provide an estimated 25 birthday parties for underrepresented children, primarily ages 1 through 12. The party recipients are identified with help from community social workers, counselors and other referral partners. Each party box provides for the birthday child and five other children. “We’re thrilled,” said Chris Welsand, Box of Balloons director and co-leader. The Gibbens grant “makes a significant difference in our organization.”
Online: https://www.boxofballoons.org; https://facebook.com/BOBFargoND/

The second-round grant awards bring to eight the number of Gibbens Memorial Grants awarded by NDAD in 2023.

More information about the Gibbens Memorial Grants at https://ndad.org/services/grants/.