The Monroe Foundation for Youth announced recently it has been awarded two grants to support services offered to those on the autism spectrum and its other service populations

Walmart awarded $1000.00 to the foundation, as part of its community granting program. 

Monroe Foundation Founder and Executive Director, Tamara Monroe shared the news Christmas Eve simply saying, “We are truly blessed to hear this news tonight.” 

The Walmart Local Community grants range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $5,000, a spokesperson for the program said. 

“This will help us to continue our mission of providing the youth in this area an opportunity to learn and use skills that will help them throughout their entire life span,” Monroe said. 

Eligible nonprofit organizations must operate on the local level (or be an affiliate/chapter of a larger organization that operates locally) and directly benefit the service area of the facility from which they are requesting funding, 

The second grant, from the Give Back Yoga Foundation (GBYF) allowed Monroe to purchase 25 Yoga Mats, she said.  

“We can now offer yoga to children on the autism spectrum, youth, and other people who don’t  typically have the opportunity to engage in yoga,” Monroe said.

GBYF is dedicated to providing yoga related supports and resources to “ to kickstart yoga outreach projects” a spokesperson said, Offering yoga to individuals who might otherwise never have the opportunity to practice  we want to Share the transformational benefits of yoga with populations that face physical and mental illness

Monroe who uses Yoga to battle pain stemming from a shoulder injury, is also a practitioner of the healing discipline certified in Vinyasa Flow, Yin and Restorative types of the practice.  

We can’t wait until January to begin offering classes and instruction with the new mats,  she said. 

“We’re having a Get Acquainted with the Monroe Foundation event in January so the community can learn what we do and offer at the foundation and sign up for Yoga classes. 

The event, scheduled for January10 is open to the community takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Yoga classes for Children are free and for Adults $5.00, foundation officials said. 

We’re really going to step up our community engagement efforts,, Monroe said of the event. “We have been running free youth programs such as a successful basketball program, youth groups, senior home visits, autism social skills groups and more since 2009. And we’re hoping to offer more to the community in 2020, Monroe said. 

Light refreshments will be served at the event taking place at Monroe Foundation offices located 1250 Veterans Highway Suite G18A Bristol, PA 19007