6 Knoxville charities receive $100,000 in grants

6 Knoxville charities receive $100,000 in grants

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Six East Tennessee nonprofit organizations received a combined $100,000 in charitable gifts Tuesday from Humana of Tennessee.

The grants were offered due to the high demand for services in the continued weak economy.

The six recipients and their awards are:

• The East Tennessee Technology Access Center - $15,000
  • ETTAC provides a wide range of assistive technology services to thousands of people with disabilities, teachers, therapists, other service providers, and area businesses.
• Family Promise of Blount County - $10,000
  • Family Promise is the East Tennessee affiliate of the national Family Promise organization, which has been serving homeless families across the country for 20 years.
• InterFaith Health Clinic - $25,000
  • The clinic provides accessible, affordable and quality health care to uninsured, low-income individuals, primarily through support of the religious, health care and business communities.
• Safe Haven Center - $15,000
  • The center focuses on the intervention and prevention of sexual violence against children and adults.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee - $25,000
  • Second Harvest distributes food to roughly 155,000 hungry people every month through a network of 420 partner agencies throughout East Tennessee.
• Volunteer Ministry Center - $10,000
  • The center works to help the poor and homeless of Knoxville achieve short-term housing, and then offers access to support services to maintain their housing situation.

Each nonprofit will use its grant to maintain or expand critical services. 

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, who attended the grant ceremony, noted that the current economy has been particularly hard on nonprofits.

"The demands on nonprofit organizations are greater than ever, yet the resources to meet the increasing needs are scarce," Haslam said. "Humana is making a wonderful investment in Knoxville by providing financial assistance to these organizations that will help them provide more and better services."

Humana of Tennessee President Evans Looney also reminded the public about the opening earlier in November of the Humana Guidance Center in Knoxville. Members and non-members to get face-to-face answers to insurance questions.

The guidance center is at 4438 Western Avenue in the 640 Plaza.