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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

Following the first round of 2024 grants issued by the Megan Montgomery Foundation this past February, the organization has now officially surpassed $200,000 in cumulative grant awards with its latest announcement of grant recipients.

The foundation regularly awards grants to high schools, colleges, non-profits and other institutions in order to bring about age-appropriate, healthy relationship education. By empowering young adults and helping them recognize unhealthy behaviors and warning indicators, it is the hope of the foundation that individuals can hold their peers accountable and stop relationship violence before it starts.

In this latest set of awards, MMF provided more than $53,000 in total funding to the following institutions:

-$10,000 to the Horizons School in partnership with Disability Rights and Resources Birmingham

-$7,500 to Samford University Homewood

-$36,400 to North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Durham, N.C.

Grant awards to both the New Horizon School and Samford University Homewood further bolstered MMF’s impact in the state of Alabama, with their previous grants this year having also funded educational programs presented by the Marion Military Institute, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama and Alabama State University in Montgomery.

“With the generous support of the Megan Montgomery Foundation, we are dedicated to empowering young individuals with disabilities with the knowledge and skills to cultivate healthy relationships and prevent relationship violence before it can take root,” said Dr. Brian Geiger, executive director of the Horizons School. “Together with our partners, Disability Rights and Resources, we will provide practical life skills lessons in loving and trusting environments.”

In addition, MMF’s award to the NCCADV expanded the organizations aid in North Carolina following the awarding of $10,000 to Queens University in Charlotte, N.C. that was announced in February 2024.

Funds awarded to the NCCADV will be utilized in programs presented across its 10 partner college campuses throughout the state of North Carolina.

“The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Campus Program is ecstatic to receive support from the Megan Montgomery Foundation to continue our work in eradicating relationship violence on college campuses in North Carolina,” said Taylour Neal, director of campus services with the NCCADV. “We will continue to place emphasis on engaging students in primary prevention, and we are grateful to work collaboratively to end relationship violence.”

The Megan Montgomery Foundation, a 501(c)(3) grantmaking nonprofit, was founded in 2021 during the aftermath of Megan Montgomery’s murder by her abusive and estranged ex-husband in 2019. Led by Montgomery’s mother, sister and stepfather, the foundation’s sole purpose is to carry on Montgomery’s self-proclaimed mission to save women, to help other girls and young women learn about the red flags of domestic violence and to do what she could to help them get out of their situations.

Those seeking more information regarding the Megan Montgomery Foundation and its mission, are encouraged to visit the foundation’s website at Megansfoundation.org.