Grants Program
Current Recipients — 2011
The purpose of the Grant Program of The National Quilting Association, Inc. is to encourage organizations, institutions, chapters, and individuals to pursue and further the art of quiltmaking through education, research, craftsmanship, and documentation.
- Wednesday Quilters
Quilts for Foster Children
This guild in New Jersey has been actively engaged in making over 375 quilts for the foster children in their area, working through Youth Consultation Services, a non-profit organization in their area. Each child is allowed to select the quilt of their choice and then put their name on the quilt so that it belongs totally to them.
- Coastal Prairie Quilt Guild
One Quilt Two Quilts
The Coastal Prairie Quilt Guild enlisted the aid of drill-team students from Lanier Middle School in Houston, Texas to help with their first quilt show. As a result, this created an interest in quilting for these 250 young ladies who asked the guild to come to their school and teach them how to make a quilt. This project is going to cover block design, using non-machine techniques such as appliqué or fusible appliqué. Other sessions will teach hand sewing the blocks together, basting the quilt top, hand quilting and binding. During the class time they plan to also introduce rotary cutting, accurate measurement techniques, fabric selection and some history of quilting.
- Kids 'n Kamp
Mom's Quilt Weekend
The Mom's Quilt Weekend will celebrate its 14th annual get away for moms of children diagnosed with cancer. Most of these moms have no knowledge of quilting and just attend because of the fellowship with others who are going through similar ordeals. Through the encouragement of many other volunteer quilters, participants find a productive and healing outlet for their emotions and the support of many kindred souls.
- Soroptomists International Midwestern Region
Care and Comfort
The mission of the Soroptomists International is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Their goal in the Care and Comfort program is to make full size quilts for the residents of Gracehaven, a rehab facility for girls under 18 who are victims of sex trafficking. As each girl enters the facility she will receive a quilt that is hers to keep. This will be an ongoing project as 15 tops have already been made with 20 more in the works. The Soroptomists members have also donated many needed toiletry items, gift cards for clothing, etc. All the items, along with a quilt, will be arranged in a welcome basket to be given to each young girl. The goal is to provide the girls with a positive new beginning and wrap them in the warmth of a new quilt.
- Beaver Valley Piecemakers
Quilts of Valor Community Service
The Beaver Valley Piecemakers Quilt Guild has set a very lofty goal of making 100 Quilts of Valor by May 2012. This effort is being guided by Donna Staby, a proud Army wife for 23 years. They are organized and ready to get started.
- My Very Own Blanket
It's Sew Easy
This non-profit organization has been utilizing the skills of more than 500 volunteers to make quilts to donate to children in foster care for 12 years. They conduct workshops wherever they can enlist groups to participate. This organization hopes to offer quilting classes for young adults aged 10-17, hoping to develop a younger generation of quilters. The plan is to hold at least 8 classes in 2011.
- Quilts of Honor
Quilts of Honor
Quilts of Honor is a one woman operation that has made 40 custom quilts for the children of fallen heroes. She has received many donations of fabric from other quilters. She includes a special gold star on every quilt.
- Chattahoochee Evening Stars Guild
Storybook Quilts- Janie's Dream
The primary goal of this project is to create a lending library whereby groups from all over the state will be able to sign out books and quilts to share with children. The leader of this project is a retired elementary school teacher who loves quilting and has found ways to incorporate quilting into units using math, history and literature.
- EduQuilters Inc.
The Kid's Quilt Project
The EduQuilters' mission is to share the art, techniques, and traditions of quilting. The Kids Quilt Project takes quilting into schools and organizations like 4-H, thus sharing the passion for quilting. EduQuilters' serves 500-700 students annually in public and private schools and organizations. The projects grow from requests and observed needs.