Press Release: Grant Funds New Van and Equipment for Just Bakery

JustDane Awarded $72,000 Grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation

Grant Funds New Van and Equipment for Just Bakery

September 12, 2023

Madison, WI–JustDane is honored to have been awarded a $72,000 grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation to support Just Bakery, a 12-week educational and vocational training program that works with individuals who are experiencing significant barriers to employment. The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation visited JustDane on the Giving Tour, a Foundation initiative that aims to make gifts and inspire giving at a local level across all 50 states.

JustDane’s many programs inspire hope for individuals returning to the Dane County community after incarceration by breaking down the barriers that can prevent them from fully participating in our community and the lives of their families. Utilizing the National Restaurant Association’s ‘ManageFirst’ curriculum, Just Bakery teaches hospitality and restaurant management, supervision, cost control, nutrition, and ServSafe to students. It also includes hands-on baking experience in JustDane’s commercial kitchen.

The grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation was used to purchase a new van for Just Bakery deliveries and equipment for the bakery, including an edible printer, new mixers, shelving for ingredients, and other equipment. The larger van with a ramp will allow Just Bakery to make more deliveries in Dane County. The edible printer will allow JustDane to make cookies with images and logos for catering corporate events. The equipment purchased will enable Just Bakery to expand its programs with more frequently deliveries, as the revenue from sales of bakery products directly support the program. This grant is significant because traditional program funding streams do not allow for the purchase of larger equipment items such as delivery vans.

JustDane is thankful to the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation for helping strengthen the program, ensuring there is up to date equipment for student learning, and expanding order and delivery capacity for Just Bakery.

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About JustDane

JustDane is private, 501(c)3 non-profit social justice/social service agency founded in 1971 and formerly called Madison-area Urban Ministry. JustDane’s many programs inspire hope for individuals returning to the Dane County community after incarceration by breaking down the barriers that prevent them from fully participating in our community and the lives of their families. Just Bakery is a 12 week educational and vocational training program. The program works with individuals who are experiencing significant barriers to employment (homelessness, justice involved, lack of education, and/or a lack of work history or skills).

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Jaclyn Eitrem at 608-220-1690 or email at jaclyn@justdane.org

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