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Fall 2025 ‘Just One More’ grant winners announced!

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We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our most recent Just One More Foundation grants.

The competition was very strong. We have awarded 13 grants to individuals from 10 states. 

Our Fall 2025 winners are:

  • James Erickson, Chattanooga, TN
  • Morgan Kilgore, Palmer, TN
  • Jacob Oxentenko, Dayton, TN
  • Amy Tetrault, Fall River, TN
  • Jamie Doyle, Media, PA
  • Arlene Briceno Munoz, Riverview, FL
  • Brandon Jackson, Milwaukee, WI
  • Vanessa Jackson, Ashtabula, OH
  • Jeanna Lavallee, Lincoln, VT
  • Andeltria Clipps, Missouri City, TX
  • Jesse Purcell, Central City, CO
  • Jacob Ostler, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Kevin Kohs, Oklahoma City, OK

Congratulations to our grantees!

Are you interested in a grant from Just One More? We will open applications for our next round of grants January 1, 2026. We would love to hear from you.

Official News Release

Just One More Foundation

Friday, November 21, 2025

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, November 21, 2025:  Just One More Foundation has awarded 13 grants to people in 10 states to help them achieve their goals. All of the award winners have overcome obstacles to get to where they are and want to help others.

The Foundation has given out more than $400,000 in its first year and a half of existence including more than $42,000 in its latest round of giving. Each grant ranged from $610-7,950.

For this latest round, Just One More Foundation grant winners come from across the United States including Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin. The foundation puts a special emphasis on helping individuals near our home base in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The group’s founder Richard Rogers says, “I created this foundation to inspire hope and provide an opportunity to individuals who have experienced hardships and the organizations that serve them. Foundation priorities include funding individuals or nonprofits who serve people dealing with substance use and/or mental health, general health care, education and opportunity issues.”

Rogers’ second chances include surviving a near fatal lightning strike and, with his brother’s help, bringing their family business back from the brink of bankruptcy following their father’s suicide. Rogers says, “We can’t save the world, but we can help out. And this is our way of giving back.”

This is Just One More Foundation’s fifth round of giving. The nonprofit plans two rounds of giving each year and is currently accepting applications for its next round of funding. This next round will focus exclusively on grants for individuals.

For more information on the foundation and grant process, contact Executive Director Daryn Kagan, daryn@justonemorefoundation.org or go to the website: justonemorefoundation.org.

America’s most unlikely City Councilman gets an incredible surprise from Just One More Foundation

There was a time Alfred Dixon was homeless.

He took almost 20 years to complete his undergraduate degree.

He frustratingly ran into some closed city basketball courts while on a break from his job at QuikTrip in Jonesboro, Georgia. That sent Dixon on a quest to figure out who makes the decisions, who is on City Council, who is running his city.

Hear his story of his disastrous first run for City Council, how becoming homeless almost derailed his educational dreams. Hear how he overcame his obstacles, his plans for the future.

And see him literally fall off his chair when he hears news from Just One More Foundation. We are about Just One More Chance, about hard work, and about people like Alfred Dixon who aim to overcome their personal obstacles so that they can go onto help others.

Our grants

Do you or someone you know qualify for one of our second chance grants?

You can get more information here.

Please donate

Your dollars go very far with Just One More Foundation. You can be a part of giving a second chance to a very deserving, hardworking person or a nonprofit that helps people overcome obstacles.

Donate

WARNING: This post discusses suicide.

Just One More Foundation surprising Katelin Viens with undergrad tuition

Big surprise for inspiring college student!

What a joy to witness the power of Just One More!

We first met Katelin Viens back in the beginning of 2023, our first grant cycle.

She shared with us how she lost her mother to suicide when she was only 12 years old. She was channeling the pain of her childhood into her studies. She was a freshman in college with the goal of becoming a physician’s assistant, focusing on mental health.

Katelin Viens with her mother and younger brother.

Katelin was determined to help people like her late mother. There was nothing she could do to bring her mother back, but she could dedicate her life to helping others and perhaps changing their outcomes.

We awarded Katelin one of our first grants.

Fast forward to Fall 2024. Katelin turned in an inspiring grant report.

She applied again. She was clearly so grateful and expected nothing from the foundation.

That explains her shock when we brought her on for a follow up interview. At least, that’s what we told her.

Actually, we had a surprise in store for her.

If you are in crisis, please call: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 or 988.

Our grants

Do you or someone you know qualify for one of our second chance grants?

You can get more information here.

Please donate

Your dollars go very far with Just One More Foundation. You can be a part of giving a second chance to a very deserving, hardworking person or a nonprofit that helps people overcome obstacles.

Donate

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our most recent Just One More Foundation grants.

The competition was very strong. We received more than 500 applications!

We awarded 32 grants to individuals and nonprofit organizations from 15 states. 

Grants range from $1,100-$16,897.

Our Fall 2024 winners are:

Nonprofit organizations

Individuals

  • Christina Blanchard
  • Jordan Bray
  • Mykah Coleman
  • Alfred Dixon
  • Myles Gallien
  • Jacqueline Gardner
  • Nicky Geskos
  • Essence Slater
  • Katelin Viens
  • Brooke Williams

Congratulations to our grantees!

Are you interested in a grant from Just One More? We will open applications for our next round of grants on January 1, 2025. We would love to hear from you.

Official News Release

Just One More Foundation

Friday, November 21, 2024

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, November 21, 2024:  Just One More Foundation has awarded grants to people in 15 states to help them achieve their goals. All of the award winners have overcome obstacles to get to where they are and want to help others.

The Foundation has given out more than $527,000 in its first year and a half of existence including more than $150,000 in its latest round of giving. Each grant ranged from $1,100-$16,897.

One individual, Mykah Coleman, needed to pause her undergraduate studies in order to care for an ailing parent. When the clock ran out on available financial aid, she found herself short of being able to finish her degree. Our grant will allow her to complete her undergraduate and Master degrees. She will soon achieve her goal of becoming a teacher in an inner city public school.

The Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, “CADAS,” of Chattanooga, Tennessee is one of 22 nonprofit organizations receiving a grant. They will use the funds to provide new home essentials for single parents moving into their furnished Family Way sober living residences.

For this latest round, Just One More Foundation grant winners come from across the United States including Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. In fact, the foundation puts a special emphasis on helping nonprofits and individuals near our home base in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The group’s founder Richard Rogers says, “I created this foundation to inspire hope and provide an opportunity to individuals who have experienced hardships and the organizations that serve them. Foundation priorities include funding individuals or nonprofits who serve people dealing with substance use and/or mental health, general health care, education and opportunity issues.”

Rogers’ second chances include surviving a near fatal lightning strike and, with his brother’s help, bringing their family business back from the brink of bankruptcy following their father’s suicide. Rogers says, “We can’t save the world, but we can help out. And this is our way of giving back.”

This is Just One More Foundation’s fourth round of giving. The nonprofit plans two rounds of giving each year and will be accepting applications for next round beginning January 1, 2025. For more information on the foundation and grant process, contact Executive Director Daryn Kagan, daryn@justonemorefoundation.org or go to the website: justonemorefoundation.org.

The Whole Horse Place multiplies second chances

Video shows The Whole Horse Place in action

See the magic that happens when Just One More gives a grant to The Whole Horse Place in Port Orchard, Washington.

Senior horses get rescued. In turn they help give second chances to some awesome kids.

The ask was pretty simple. The Whole Horse Place in Port Orchard, Washington needed help feeding their horses. They wrote, “We are seeking a grant to help cover one month of our feed costs to ensure our programs remain affordable for families who otherwise could not participate.”

Tina Meekins explained how their organization rescues senior horses and matches them with people in need.

The horses get a second chance at life and purpose. The program teaches responsibility, confidence, self-respect, resilience, and emotional honesty through horse care, hard work, and education.

Together with the horses, they serve a diverse population of low-income families, foster children, children with adverse childhood experiences, and other youth. Our main service is our horse experience program, which is a customized half-day session of daily horse care based on the horses’ and participants’ needs.

The pictures tell the story!

Thank you to The Whole Horse Place for sending us these incredible images of their good work in action.

What impact does your work have on your community?

Our program serves a diverse population of low-income families, foster children, children from addiction, and other youth who have few affordable recreational and educational opportunities in our area. We provide participants with a safe and supportive environment where they can learn about horse care, develop important life skills, and bond with the horses and each other.

In addition to providing a unique opportunity for participants, our program rescues senior horses from neglect, abandonment, and euthanasia, giving them a second chance at life. Senior horses benefit from gentle exercise, grooming, and stimulation, and at our facility they can enjoy a peaceful retirement without being overworked or forgotten. As beloved members of our community, the senior horses inspire people of all ages to learn about horse care, respect, and compassion.

Just One More Foundation is proud to give a grant to support The Whole Horse Place in Port Orchard, Washington. Credit: The Whole Horse Place.

We are not a riding facility, but instead focus on teaching the whole horse experience. A typical day might start with grooming, personal time with the horse, chores, tacking up and riding, horsemanship classes, and learning the participant’s needs and the needs of the horse.

Riding is not the sole focus of the experience. They work hard doing chores. They learn how to be a partner and a leader of their horse, follow all safety rules, and use common sense. They learn how a horse thinks and how to apply that knowledge to their own situations and lives. They learn all aspects of horse care from giving immunizations and taking rectal temperatures, to cleaning diarrhea off rumps.

The youth benefit by learning good life skills, including conflict resolution, empowerment, respect, empathy, and having a can-do attitude. The rescued senior horses benefit by having a job and a purpose, and by getting light exercise and all the doting and love an old horse can handle.

We also believe “give help and give hope” for people who feel “less than.” The horses inspire them to accept, and to try again.

How did the grant from Just One More Help your organization?

Your grant met the horses needs, so people were able to attend more often.

Wow! Just Wow!

Kids are learning the value of hard work and taking care of others at The Whole Horse Place in Port Orchard, Washington. Credit: The Whole Horse Place.

We want to tell you the story of one of our participants. She recently moved to Colorado to live with her mother and sent us a text saying that the horse we gave her saved her life. She did not commit suicide; her horse gave her a second chance. We knew she was struggling but we did not know she was contemplating suicide. The horse we gave her while she was here gave her a sense of worth. Thank you, Just One More, because YOU saved this kid’s life. Thank you. This young woman is now a youth leader in an organization that works with other youth preventing suicide.

Keep up your incredible work, The Whole Horse Place!

Senior horses are getting a second chance and kids are getting lessons in hard work and overcoming challenges at The Whole Horse Place in Port Orchard, WA. Credit: The Whole Horse Place.

Are you looking for a second chance?

Do you know someone who deserves a second chance? Check out our grant opportunities.

Tausoa Mulitalo received Just One More grant to complete her education

Tausoa Mulitalo is a survivor. She overcame the immense challenges of surviving sexual abuse and years of battling addiction. Through relentless effort and ongoing therapy, she found recovery and transformed her life, becoming a dedicated college student. Although she has made significant progress, her healing journey continues as she works through the lingering traumas and challenges rooted in addiction.

Seeking support to pursue her Master’s degree, she turned to Just One More. She shared her vision of becoming a licensed social worker, driven by her desire to return to her community and help others overcome their own traumas and addictions.

photo credit: Elm Photo + Film

What impact did your Just One More grant have on your life?

The grant award had significantly impacted my ability to obtain my Master’s degree free from the burden of student loans and debt. Thanks to the grant, I didn’t have to juggle extra jobs or hours to make ends meet or fret over mounting bills and steep interest rates. This allowed me to focus wholeheartedly on my studies, immersing myself in learning and community engagement without the shadow of financial strain looming over me.

What are you most proud of?

I take great pride in achieving and sustaining a GPA above 3.5 while actively engaging in various community service initiatives. These included conducting workshops for children and youth, collaborating with healthcare providers, professionals, and community members to establish a project aimed at addressing the perinatal mental health care needs of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) mothers in Utah, and diligently preparing and delivering presentations to fellow social workers on the challenges and effective strategies pertaining to mental health within the NHPI community.

What are your future goals and plans?

I’m working towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker so I can provide mental health therapy and potentially prepare myself for my own private practice, educating, and serving the community, especially Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI)-identifying community members. Mental health is still considered taboo among this population, so I would like to work with other organizations to help address these educational and service needs. I am also considering contributing to research in social work, specifically mental health among NHPI or healing modalities for NHPI, so a Ph.D. might be in the distant future. Overall, my goal is to promote well-being by bringing together different treatments to help people receive well rounded services.

Congratulations, Soa!

We believe in you! And we celebrate your journey to help others and spread the opportunity of second chances.

Dr. Michael Piccione and his wife, Kristin, are both military veterans.

Together, they saw an incredible gap in the dental care many veterans need. They created Vets4Vets, a nonprofit organization set up to give free oral surgical care to veterans. They donate their services, but there still are many costs involved to do their good work.

They applied for a grant from Just One More Foundation. We brought them on a Zoom call, telling them we needed more information in addition to their application. Actually, we were setting them up for a surprise. Not only are we giving them a grant worth more than $5,000. We are bestowing upon them our “Sawbriar Award.”

The Sawbriar is named in honor of our good friend, Ray “Sawbriar” Avans, a Vietnam veteran and good friend of the foundation. Sawbriar passed away not long after we launched Just One More. We keep his memory alive with this award given to an individual or organization dedicated to giving veterans a second chance.

Do you love the idea for this award? Here is another moment when we surprised a very deserving grantee.

Do you know someone who deserves a second chance? Check out our grant opportunities.

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our most recent Just One More Foundation grants.

The competition was very strong. We have awarded 23 grants awarded to individuals and nonprofit organizations from 13 states. 

The grants range from $2,000-$20,000.

Our Spring 2024 winners are:

Nonprofit organizations

Individuals

  • Maretta Afraid of Bear
  • Kayla Blevins
  • Brittany Garrett
  • Roxanne McDonald CADC-R, NCRC- ll, NCIP- l

Congratulations to our grantees!

Are you interested in a grant from Just One More? We will open applications for our next round of grants on July 1, 2024. We would love to hear from you.

Official News Release

Just One More Foundation

Friday, May 31, 2024

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, May 31, 2024:  Just One More Foundation has awarded 23 grants to people in 13 states to help them achieve their goals. All of the award winners have overcome obstacles to get to where they are and want to help others.

The Foundation has given out more than $376,000 in its first year and a half of existence including more than $150,000 in its latest round of giving. Each grant ranged from $2,000-$20,000.

One individual, Maretta Afraid of Bear will receive a $12,780 to help complete her studies as she works toward becoming a registered nurse. She plans to devote her practice to her Ogala Lakota community on Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.

Vets4Vets in Savannah, Georgia is one of 19 nonprofit organizations receiving a grant. They provide dental care for veterans who are without insurance. Founder Dr. Michael PIccone and his wife Kris are both veterans themselves.

For this latest round, Just One More Foundation grant winners come from across the United States including Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Tennessee. In fact, the foundation puts a special emphasis on helping nonprofits and individuals near our home base in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The group’s founder Richard Rogers says, “I created this foundation to inspire hope and provide an opportunity to individuals who have experienced hardships and the organizations that serve them. Foundation priorities include funding individuals or nonprofits who serve people dealing with substance use and/or mental health, general health care, education and opportunity issues.”

Rogers’ second chances include surviving a near fatal lightning strike and, with his brother’s help, bringing their family business back from the brink of bankruptcy following their father’s suicide. Rogers says, “We can’t save the world, but we can help out. And this is our way of giving back.”

This is Just One More Foundation’s third round of giving. The nonprofit plans two rounds of giving each year and will be accepting applications for next round beginning July 1, 2024. For more information on the foundation and grant process, contact Executive Director Daryn Kagan, daryn@justonemorefoundation.org or go to the website: justonemorefoundation.org.

Vinettea Freeman is a former IT professional who lost much of her professional and personal life when she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa.

She is just a few courses short of completing her master’s degree. She had to drop out of graduate school as she began to lose her sight. She has since learned many techniques and technology applications that help her function and work, however, because she hasn’t been able to work as an IT professional, she was short of funds to complete her degree.

Freeman will receive a $5,000 grant to re-enroll in graduate school to complete her degree. She plans to pursue a new career developing resources for other individuals with low vision challenges.

Want to witness a great moment? Watch as we surprise Ms. Freeman with news that Just One More is fulfilling 100% of the funds she requested in her application.

Learning about Just One More

By the way, Ms. Freeman learned about Just One More when CBS News did an incredible story on our foundation and founder Richard Rogers. Have you seen it? Freeman says she bawled her eyes out the first time she watched it.

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our most recent Just One More Foundation grants.

The competition was very strong. We have awarded 15 grants awarded to individuals and nonprofit organizations from 10 states. 

The grants range from $4,000-$16,710.

Our winners are:

Nonprofit organizations

Individual winners

  • Becky Clarke
  • Vinettea Freeman
  • Belinda Nixon

Congratulations to our grantees!

Are you interested in a grant from Just One More? We will open applications for our next round of grants on January 1, 2024. We would love to hear from you.

Official News Release

Just One More Foundation

Mon, November 27, 2023

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, November 27, 2023:  Just One More Foundation has awarded 15 grants to people in 10 states to help them achieve their goals. All of the award winners have overcome obstacles to get to where they are and want to help others.

The Foundation has given out more than $250,000 in its first year of existence including more than $116,000 in its latest round of giving. Each grant ranged from $1,500-$22,500.

One individual, Vinettea Freeman, will receive a $5,000 to re-enroll in graduate school to complete her master’s degree. Freeman is a former IT professional who lost much of her professional and personal life when she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. She plans to use the money to complete her master’s degree and pursue a new career developing resources for other individuals with low vision challenges.

The Denton County LOSS Team in Denton, TX is one of 12 nonprofit organizations receiving a grant. They provide immediate on-scene resources to individuals impacted by suicide and loss of a loved one. Their $12,000 grant will fund cleaning services for families who have lost a loved one to suicide. These specific circumstances require specialized cleaning that is often unaffordable, especially for families managing other death-related expenses.

The Just One More Foundation grant winners come from across the United States including California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The group’s founder Richard Rogers says, “I created this foundation to inspire hope and provide an opportunity to individuals who have experienced hardships and the organizations that serve them. Foundation priorities include funding individuals or nonprofits who serve people dealing with substance use and/or mental health, general health care, education and opportunity issues.”

Rogers’ second chances include surviving a near fatal lightning strike and, with his brother’s help, bringing their family business back from the brink of bankruptcy following their father’s suicide, Rogers says. “We can’t save the world, but we can help out. And this is our way of giving back.”

This is “Just One More Foundation’s” second round of giving. The nonprofit plans two rounds of giving each year; and will be accepting applications for next round beginning January 1, 2024. For more information on the foundation and grant process, contact Executive Director Daryn Kagan, daryn@justonemorefoundation.org or go to the website: justonemorefoundation.org.