Awards and Grants
Since its inception in 2019, AFSC has benefited from the generous support of many organizations, both local and regional. AFSC Board members, passionate visionaries, dedicated volunteers, and local residents are grateful for the continued support of these organizations. AFSC values the trust and confidence our funding partners have shown in our ability to use their funds wisely and effectively in a shared goal to improve the quality of life for all members of our Sisters community.
Our initial support from AARP, the City of Sisters, C4C, the Sisters Vision Implementation Team, the St Charles Foundation and the Roundhouse Foundation helped AFSC build a solid foundation and launch our first successful project, STARS (Sisters Transportation and Ride Share). As we all navigated the challenges of COVID, these generous funders continued to support our work. Funds provided PPE for STARS volunteer drivers, assisted us with outreach and volunteer recruitment, provided essential upgrades to program software and helped pay for background checks to ensure that volunteer drivers were thoroughly vetted, vaccinated and insured. STARS provided hundreds of rides to medical appointments and vaccination clinics and delivered meals and prescriptions to many people in the Sisters community.
As AFSC has matured into a reliable and important community partner, the Ford Family Foundation has nurtured our efforts and provided funds to ensure future success in the longer term. Strategic Planning and Board development are ongoing, thanks to the Foundation’s support.
A 2024 City of Sisters Community Grant will help support a November 2024 “What Do You Do With An Idea” workshop as well as provide funds for our annual Sing Your Hearts Out Sisters event in spring 2025. Our action team, Romeo’s Joy also received support from this year’s grant.
AFSC’s successful (and recently, its own nonprofit) action team, STARS, received a n award through the generosity of 100 Women Who Care which chose to support Sister’s volunteer ride share program after presentations by the three nominated nonprofits, all of which represent Sisters' caring, giving community.
Most recently, with the generous support of the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, the Roundhouse Foundation, C4C and the St Charles foundation, AFSC and STARS have begun the work of broadening outreach to the Latino community. In addition, several organizations, including the City of Sisters have helped STARS develop a program to reimburse a portion of volunteer drivers’ fuel expenses in the face of high gas prices. These funds are helping STARS refine and expand its overall objectives in the Sisters community.
AFSC is truly grateful for AARP’s Connecting Community Project sponsorship and their support of our efforts to enhance livability in Sisters Country, to mitigate the negative effects of isolation, and to put in place strategies and programs to allow older adults to age in place with grace, independence, and good health.
AFSC wishes to acknowledge all our granting partners and will continue our best efforts to help our Sisters neighbors live well and thrive.