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BY MAJOR CAROL PONTSLER –
 THE SENIOR NUTRITION Program is supported by the T.L. Williams trust. |
Picture a group of women eagerly shopping for clothing, who will look “public ready” and professional following a workshop by local business people on dress codes and dressing on a budget.
They will soon be ready for job interviews. These women participated in educational classes made possible in part by a grant from the T. L. Williams Trust.
Hundreds of men, women and children have been helped in recent years as a result of a major bequest to The Salvation Army, given by the estate of Thomas Lyle Williams, who believed that “The Salvation Army does more for the poor people of the world than any other organization, public or private.”
Each year, several hundred thousand dollars are given to encourage creative programs to alleviate the problems experienced by families who live at or below the poverty level as set by the federal government. Applications are reviewed at territorial headquarters prior to a May 1 announcement, with preference given to programs that can demonstrate a reasonable expectation of developing local funding sources within the first three years of receiving Williams funds. Often, Williams funds serve as “challenge” money to stimulate local support as well.
A wide range of programs has benefited from this generous gift. In light of the passage of California Proposition 36, which mandates treatment rather than incarceration for most nonviolent drug related offenders, Williams dollars have been awarded in 2001 to assist with outpatient treatment for 40 men at the Los Angeles Harbor Light Center and 20 women at Safe Harbor in Los Angeles.
Fifty homeless men and women, 100 children and 25 elderly persons will be targeted to benefit from a comprehensive system of tutorial education laboratories at six metropolitan Denver centers, funded in part by Williams Trust monies. Williams funds will assist in providing staff for a new transitional housing center for families in the lower Yakima Valley–a project of the River Valley, WA, corps in cooperation with the Washington State Migrant Council, Lower Yakima County Rural Enterprise Community and Yakima County Coalition for the Homeless.
A new “Play for Success” Program in Twin Falls, ID, will provide instruction on parenting skills, child development and other topics while providing an opportunity for a parents of children under the age of five to interact with their little ones on a weekly basis.
Funds will also assist with the new early childhood education center at Greeley, CO, a computer tutoring center for youth at El Cajon, CA, a senior nutrition program at the Richmond, CA, Corps, and help with a summer day camp in Fresno, CA.
T. L. Williams Funds Support these programs:
| Arcadia & Anaheim, CA: Women’s Programs |
$7,000
|
| Anchorage, AK Booth House: Band Instruments for Youth |
$14,444
|
| Twin Falls, ID Corps: “Play for Success” |
$15,500
|
| Fairfield CA Corps: “Together We Serve” |
$26,500
|
| Richmond, CA: Senior Nutrition Program |
$60,895
|
| Fresno, CA: Summer Day Camp |
$9,914
|
| Honolulu, HI FTS: Family Resources Coordinator |
$43,150
|
| Denver Metro Area: Educational/Tutorial Program |
$51,000
|
| Fountain Valley, CO: After School Club Program |
$13,500
|
| Glenwood Springs, CO: Temp. Community Housing |
$60,000
|
| Greeley, CO: Early Childhood Education Center |
$40,000
|
| Missoula MT: Program Planner Position |
$32,827
|
| Olympia, WA: Shelter Chaplain/Homeless Outreach Adv |
$24,627
|
| River Valley, WA Corps: Transitional Housing Program |
$55,416
|
| Vancouver, WA: Comm. Resource Advocate Program |
$20,000
|
| Los Angeles, CA Harbor Light Center: Outpatient Program |
$30,000
|
| Tustin, CA: Orange County Career Services |
$30,000
|
| El Cajon, CA: Computer Lab/Tutoring Center |
$25,000
|
| Escondido, CA: Afternoon Challenge Center Program |
$17,050
|
| Alamogordo, NM: “Beyond the Basics” |
$22,500
|
| Tempe, AZ: The Emmaus Project |
$18,000
|
|
|
|
|
total
|
$617, 323
|
