COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY AWARDS GRANTS
Nonprofit organizations awarded more than $50,000 in first half of 2013
July 15, 2013 -- The Community Foundation of Howard County has awarded more than $50,000 in competitive grants during the first half of 2013.
“Our community is fortunate to have organizations that provide vital support services,” said Joe Dunbar, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Grants Committee. “We partner with our donors in philanthropy and help them to connect with their community so they can support the good work of our nonprofit sector. We thank the donors, organizations and volunteers for working to improve our community now and in the future.”
The following agencies and programs were awarded grants:
$1,065 to the Family Service Association supported the Prevent Child Abuse Conference held in April. Topics addressed at the conference included drug and alcohol abuse, depression, teen suicide, bullying, hate crimes, peer pressure and physical violence.
$4,000 to the Howard County Historical Society will be used towards upgrading the Elliott House. Funding will be used to purchase tables and chairs to enhance the meeting room area to increase bookings for the facility. Income generated from the use of the facility helps provide for maintenance of the collections and buildings, as well as the history services provided to the community.
$2,000 to Indiana University Kokomo supported the Super Explorers Teaching Internship program. Grant money was used hire Indiana University’s School of Education students to work with the City of Kokomo Parks and Recreation’s Kirkendall Nature Center staff to revise the curriculum for the Super Explorers Summer Camps.
$3,500 to Indiana University Kokomo provides support for speaker fees and expenses for the Sept. 14, 2013, Women’s Summit. The event participants will work together to identify key issues where advocacy and solutions are needed.
$2,000 to the Kokomo Housing Authority helped to implement a summer leadership academy for young residents of public housing. The program’s lesson plans present the core values of leadership. Activities include tours of local museums and businesses coupled with guest speakers who will give students some context of leadership skills needed for success in the real world.
$1,700 to the Kokomo Humane Society will be used to redesign the organization’s Web site. The redesigned Web site will be easier to navigate and more inviting for visitors as they explore services offered by the Humane Society.
$3,000 to the Kokomo Park Band will provide funding for the 2013 Summer Concert Series. The series focuses on providing arts education for youth, enrichment for senior citizens and a showcase for local talent.
$5,000 to the Kokomo Rescue Mission will help fund the Open Arms Activities Center project. This includes the concrete foundation for the picnic shelter and the construction of the shelter. The shelter will be used by residents and children during meals and outdoor activities.
$5,000 to the Kokomo Symphonic Society will provide support for a free concert featuring 1964, a Beatles tribute band.
$2,000 to Kokomo Urban Outreach will be used for marketing materials to support the K-Serve program. The purpose of K-Serve is to serve college-aged student interns by giving them experience, insight, gifts and passion for community service. K-Serve will be a leadership incubator where the next generation of leaders will develop as they serve in the Kokomo community.
$700 to the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Kokomo will be used to launch the Hearts and Mind program in Kokomo. The program serves to educate community members about health, wellness and mental illness. National material is used to help community members set lifestyle goals and learn about resources offered by NAMI. Using local volunteers, the program incorporates a weekly exercise component and offers a monthly follow-up support group.
$5,000 to Taylor Community School Corporation – Camp Taylor provided support for summer camp for Howard County pre-school through high school students. Topics for the camps will reinforce STEM curriculum (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
$15,600 to the United Way of Howard County will provide funding support for the continuation of the 4Community Howard County Project. 4Community and its partners work to strengthen fragile families by mobilizing neighborhood assets and providing resources through community alliances in the Near Northwest and Pine Valley public housing neighborhoods.
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 Hilda Burns at 765-454-7298 or hilda@cfhoward.org. The Web site www.cfhoward.org contains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.
