COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY AWARDS GRANTS

Nonprofit organizations awarded more than $52,500 in second half of 2011

December 14, 2011 -- The Community Foundation of Howard County has awarded more than $52,500 in competitive grants during the second half of 2011. Combined with the first half, this brings the total of competitive grants awarded to more than $87,500 for the year.

"Funds awarded through our competitive grants process are an important way to help organizations provide essential services," said Joe Dunbar, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Grants Committee. "We thank donors to our unrestricted funds for utilizing the Foundation as a way to support Howard County. As a Foundation, it is important to adapt to the changes in the community, and these donations enable us to help with current needs while building funds in anticipation of future needs."

The following agencies and programs were awarded grants:

$1,500 to Blush through the Northern Indiana Community Foundation to provide 150 scholarship admissions for low-income and at-risk students to participate in a two-day event in November. The event educates students in grades 4-12 about the misleading and false appeal of the media. The speaker for the event was Tina Marie Griffin, a former actress who now shares her insights with students, educators and parents. The purpose is to provide a positive educational program that promotes physical, emotional and spiritual growth for youth.

$2,000 to Book Readers and Horn Blowers (BRHB) will provide support for the "Duke Ellington, American Jazz Legend" program. BRHB will present the program at Taylor Primary and Taylor Intermediate schools. The program increases student awareness of the importance of their American cultural heritage and promotes the love of reading, history and music. During this interactive program, Ellington's life will be presented through a convocation and musical performance.

$5,000 to Family Service Association (FSA) of Howard County will provide partial matching support for the Healthy Families Matching Funds project. FSA received a matching grant award from the Kid's First Trust Fund through the Indiana Department of Child Services. FSA has to raise private funds to access these funds. These funds will be used to offset cuts and preserve services provided through the Healthy Families program that offers research-based home visiting services to parents of young children.

$1,950 to Guardian Angel Hospice Foundation will provide funding support to purchase informational books and brochures to assist the community with end-of-life issues. In order to fully stock the resource center with the book "In the Checklist of Life," a purchase of 150 books is required. The Resource Center is a newly established library open to the public. The book is an important workbook for families facing life-threatening illness.

$20,000 to the Indiana Lions Trust Fund for the Greentown Lions Club will be used to preserve the last round barn in Howard County. Grant money will be used for windows, doors, loft stairways, loft flooring and railing, and interior wall siding. A popular attraction during the Howard County 4-H fair, the restoration of the round barn will promote a better understanding of the cultural history of Indiana agriculture and provide educational value to area schools and organizations.

$15,000 to Indiana University Kokomo will provide partial, matching support to purchase 1,100 slightly used auditorium seats for Haven's Auditorium. The community will be served by enhancing the auditorium's seating for the community groups who use this venue for local theater, music, art performances and meetings.

$1,500 to Ronald McDonald House will help bridge the gap between the actual cost to provide lodging to Howard County families and the amount they can contribute toward their stay. The Ronald McDonald House helps alleviate stress for families by providing low-to-no-cost lodging and support where families can be near their hospitalized child.

$5,000 to Samaritan Caregivers will provide support for a billboard campaign in Howard County to help build awareness and recruit volunteers. Samaritan Caregivers utilizes volunteers to provide free assistance with non-medical, daily activities for people age 65 and over who are still living at home.

$1,000 to the Tippecanoe Arts Federation will provide partial support towards a mural in Howard County. The project partners a professional artist with local youth and community members in the design, creation and implementation of the mural. The objectives are to beautify community areas, visually promote the benefit of arts in the community and have a positive impact on all participants. This program also is a collaborative educational outreach program that serves underserved and at-risk youth.

The Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc. was formed as a not-for-profit public charity in March 1991. The Foundation seeks to serve donors and make grants to benefit the citizens of Howard County. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact Ron Harper or Hilda Burns at 765-454-7298 or ron@cfhoward.org and hilda@cfhoward.org. The Web site www.cfhoward.org contains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.