Healthy Communities

COurtesy of the Utah olympic legacy foundation

In October of 2022 The DKJ Memorial Foundation was proud to support the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation’s Healthy Communities and Scholarship initiatives programs for youth.

“The Healthy Communities Initiative, UOLF Scholarship Fund, and Latinx Inclusion Program are at the forefront of promoting healthy and active lifestyles while nurturing essential social, emotional, and leadership skills. These programs provide our children and athletes with enduring capabilities that extend far beyond their sporting endeavors. For some, it’s an opportunity to explore a diverse range of winter sports, potentially discovering a lifelong passion, all while cultivating new friendships and building confidence. For others, it’s a chance to continue their holistic development in both sports and life, and, ideally, to chase their athletic dreams. Witnessing the flourishing of so many young individuals both on and off the field has been incredibly rewarding. UOLF is truly privileged to have your incredible support. The David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation stands as a remarkable advocate and ambassador for our youth programs.”

— Colin Hilton, President and Chief Executive Officer

Utah Youths Making World Impact

COurtesy of Youthlinc

In March of 2022 The DKJ Memorial Foundation was proud to support Youthlinc in offering Utah youths opportunities for community leadership development and service projects in Cambodia, Fiji, and Kenya.

“These projects provide food and/or fuel resources to communities that are vulnerable to shortages and at risk of losing land to erosion. These issues are often compounded by climate change. By planting trees and vegetation, we also support natural ecosystems and the biosphere. Vegetation helps to regulate carbon, water, and nitrogen cycles and contributes to the overall global fight against climate change. Each community lives under the poverty line and lack resources to do these projects without outside support. All communities have members with the skills to oversee and manage these projects to provide
ongoing support.”

— Jordan Taylor, International Service Director

Assistive Learning Technology

Courtesy of Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Education Foundation

In March of 2022 The DKJ Memorial Foundation was proud to support Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Education Foundation in providing assistive devices & technology and extracurricular educational activities to the blind and deaf children of Utah.

“Thank you for your support of 4,500 deaf and blind children in Utah. The USDB Education Foundation is grateful for your generous grant donation contributing to our mission of building an unparalleled support system and enhancing the educational experience for Utah children who are deaf, blind and deaf-blind.”

— Amy Zaharis, Executive Director

Grace and Dignity

COurtesy of the inn between

In March of 2022 The DKJ Memorial Foundation was proud to support The INN Between in providing medical housing days to the terminally ill and medically frail homeless clients.

“So far, in just the first three quarters of FY22/23, we’ve provided 12,000 days of critically needed medical housing to a total of 114 terminally ill and medically frail homeless residents; 26 were terminally ill, and 88 were medically frail. We served as a stable end of life housing provider for 11 residents who experienced the end of life with dignity. With our help, seven residents obtained permanent community housing. Out of the total 114 individuals served in the first three quarters of FY 22/23 79 were between the ages 18+ and 61, and 35 were over the age of 62.”

— Jillian Olmsted, Executive Director

Discovering Your Creativity

Courtesy of visual art institute

In October of of 2021 The DKJ Memorial Foundation was proud to support The Visual Art Institute in providing after school arts programing for children and teens.

“The David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation’s generous support allowed VAI to impact over 2500+ creative individuals in our community from January -August 2022. Activities included:
• 53 art classes (e.g., intro to art, ceramics, oil painting, watercolor, drawing, 2D & 3D digital art,
Procreate, and mixed media, and figure drawing)
• 25 Summer Camps and 3 Figure Academy One-Week Intensive Workshops
• Community Outreach Programs with Neighborhood House (12 sessions) and Rape Recover (12
sessions)
• Participation in Utah Arts Festival: Children’s Art Yard
• Awards: Springville Art Museum’s All-State High School Exhibition”

— Hana Janatová, Executive Director

Learning About The Natural World

courtesy of Friends of tracy aviary

In October of of 2021 The DKJ Memorial Foundation was proud to support Friends of Tracy Aviary in purchasing a passenger van to provide education and field trip opportunities for participants of Tracy Aviary’s summer programs.

“We expect the van to last many years, so that it will be able to transport people of
all ages to our environmental and conservation programming. Because of your support, we can educate and inspire future environmental stewards and people who care about the earth, especially our home of Salt Lake Valley.”

— Friends of Tracy Aviary

Support For Our Rural Communities

Courtesy of Building Youth Around the World

On March 18th, 2021 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support Building Youth Around The World to meet the urgent food needs of many Montezuma Creek families living on the Navajo Nation.

“We stocked the Tribal Four Corners Pantry with 5000lbs of pantry basics such as
flour, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, beans, soup, and pasta
provide the ingredients for nutritious and filling meals. This will be distributed
to residents across the entire area for several months to come.

We provided 10 families with $200 grocery coupons which allowed them to buy
the food and hygiene supplies that will meet their needs during the month.

Part of the donation was used to fill 5 Thanksgiving boxes. Each box was filled
with 100+ pounds of ham, turkey, potatoes, cocoa, pumpkin pies, and nonperishable
canned foods to last the family food for 1-2 months.”

— Ian McCracken, Executive Director

Enhancing Our Environment

Courtesy of tree utah

On March 18th, 2021 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support Tree Utah in their project of planting 158 large caliper trees throughout Salt Lake County.

“All in all, we were able to provide 75 trees to schools and engage 1043 students (as well as teachers and
parents who were also there), and 83 trees in parks alongside 1632 volunteers. In sum, we planted 158
trees and engaged 2405 people.”

— Amy May, Executive Director

Preserving Our Creeks

Courtesy of Seven Canyons Trust

On March 18th, 2021 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support Seven Canyons Trust in their Watershed Walk Series.

“The walks engaged 1,937 participants for 6,448 hours. Approximately,
16,200 feet of stream was walked, 400 pounds of garbage and debris removed from creeks, and one acre of wetland sod installed at the Three Creeks Confluence.

Grant funding was used for: (1) Riparian restoration tools to remove noxious weeds, clean trash and debris, and improve streams channels (2) Educational equipment for curriculum designed to enhance Seven Creeks Walk Series programming and (3)
Printing for grant-related activities.”

— Brian Tonetti, Executive Director

Keeping Families Together

COURTESY OF RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

On October 19th, 2020 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support Ronald McDonald House in providing emergency medical housing and respite for pediatric patient families who are seeking medical care for their child.

“This effort provided housing and amenities to 1,328 families (3,648 individuals) with seriously ill or injured children. ”

— Vickie Moschetti, Chief Stewardship & Major Gifts Officer

Running and Growing

Courtesy of Heidi Moreton

On October 19th, 2020 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support Girls on The Run by providing scholarships for girls to participate in their activity-based youth development programs.

“The Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole programs inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.
Both are physical activity-based positive youth development programs designed to enhance girls’ social, psychological and physical skills and behaviors to help them successfully navigate life experiences.”

— Heidi Moreton, Girls on The Run Executive Director

Facilities for Miracles

Courtesy of Katie Dyas

On October 3rd, 2019 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support One Heart Worldwide in establishing 2 birthing centers in remote communities of Nepal.

“In addition to the physical renovation and equipment upgrades provided to a health facility, One Heart Worldwide provides specialized training for key staff, stakeholders, and local government representatives to build critical skills necessary for quality service delivery, promote access to the newly upgraded facilities, and foster local ownership and management of the upgraded Birthing Centers for long-term sustainability.”

— One Heart Worldwide

Picking The Right Pair

OGDEN SIGHTFEST, COURTESY OF BEN DORGER

On October 3rd, 2019 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support Friends for Sight in the Vision Screening and Outreach Program.

“Your grant was used as promised to support our critically important vision screening and outreach program, allowing us to vision screen 12,895 preschoolers and 55,952 youth for visual acuity at the most important age to detect vision problems so they can perform at their highest level in school.”

— Kate Edwards, Friends for Sight Executive Director

Fun for All Ages

Courtesy of Tracy Aviary and Botanical Gardens

On April 2nd, 2019 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support the Tracy Aviary and Botanical Gardens in their Senior Days Program.

“Senior Days is the pilot program for our larger suite of nature programming designed to serve Utah’s senior population. Senior Days is an ongoing program that we will offer indefinitely; it has been one of the most successful new initiatives at the Aviary in recent years, demonstrating a 33% growth in our senior audience since the program’s launch two years ago.”

— Tracy Aviary

Transportation to Education

Courtesy of Spy Hop

On April 2nd, 2019 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support Spy Hop in purchasing a 12-15 passenger van in order to provide transportation to students attending Spy Hop’s programs.

“This new van is designated for student transportation and has allowed us to provide field trips, transportation between community partners, and to eliminate a transportation barrier that many of our students face.”

— Kasandra VerBrugghen, Spy Hop Executive Director

A Closer Look at The Great Salt Lake Wetlands

COURTESY OF ANDREA NELSON/THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

On October 29th, 2018 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support The Nature Conservancy in their Wings & Water Program. The Nature Conservancy’s Wings & Water program is a hands-on opportunity for 4th grade students along Utah’s Wasatch Front to gain a greater appreciation for the Great Salt Lake watershed.

“The success of our Wings & Water Wetlands Education Program this year, and our ability to maintain interest in this program, would not be possible without the generous support of the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation and others. Thanks to your support we have been able to remain nimble and responsive to changing educational needs at the preserve, while continuing to provide an award-winning educational curriculum that enhances 4th-grade science classes.”

— Nancy Sears, The Nature Conservancy

A Coalition for Support and Healing

COURTESY OF JACKIE PALMER

On October 29th, 2018 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support the Adoptive Families Coalition in an effort to establish ongoing group art and music lessons and promote advertising of services for families with post adoption challenges.

“Adoptive Families Coalition strives to make the Center inviting and a place where healing and connection can happen. It has been incredible this past year to see our efforts and dreams become a reality with the help of DKJ Memorial Foundation! Again, thank you!”

— Jackie Palmer, Adoptive Families Coalition Executive Director

Education in Nature

Courtesy of Luke Golden

On April 4th, 2018 the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support The Citizens Committee to Save Our Canyons in their efforts of involving youth in the Wasatch Wilderness and Stewardship Education Program.

“Save Our Canyons Kids hike to donut falls with the Capitol West Boys and Girls Club. Many had not been in the Wasatch before.”

— Save Our Canyons

Helping to Preserve Tradition

COURTESY OF JOHN A. MORAN EYE CENTER

On October 30th, 2017, the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support The Global Outreach Division of The John A. Moran Eye Center in their efforts to restore curable blindness in the Navajo Nation.

“Basket-weaver Anna Black lives on the Utah Strip of the Navajo Nation with her husband, Sam. Since his stroke, she has been his primary caregiver. Anna is known for the colorful, intricate baskets she has woven for years, carrying on the traditions of her ancestors. But as she developed cataracts in both eyes, it was getting harder and harder to see her work. Though her hands moved with precision, she wasn’t always sure the patterns came out the way she intended. Since Moran physicians removed her cataracts, she can weave her traditional baskets with more speed and precision and better provide an income for her family. ”

— John A. Moran Eye Center

A New Outlook On Life

Courtesy of John A. Moran Eye Center

On October 30th, 2017, the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation was proud to support The Global Outreach Division of The John A. Moran Eye Center in their efforts to restore curable blindness in Tanzania.

“ Twelve-year-old Ezeleda Julius was collecting firewood for her family when a stick stabbed her eye. Without treatment, she developed a traumatic cataract and nearly lost all sight in that eye. She showed strength and courage during her operation, and when her sight was returned, so was her smile. ”

— John A. Moran Eye Center