COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY AWARDS GRANT

Nonprofit organizations awarded more than $90,000 in first half of 2012

July 19, 2012 -- The Community Foundation of Howard County has awarded more than $90,000 in competitive grants during the first half of 2012.

 "The competitive grants process allows us to be responsive to the needs of our community," said Joe Dunbar, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Grants Committee. "Through the foresight of our donors, we are able to work with local organizations to help support services and programs throughout the county. We thank our donors, organizations and volunteers for their commitment to the community."

The following agencies and programs were awarded grants:

$3,000 to the American Red Cross of North Central Indiana provides support to strengthen the Howard County disaster services program. Grant money will be used to help purchase a supply cargo trailer that will be pre-stocked with materials and supplies for quick deployment following a local disaster.

$4,000 to Carver Community Center was used to expand marketing efforts to promote Carver Community Center’s annual Ribfest fundraiser. Increased marketing efforts included fliers, regional radio ads, posters, banners, billboards, regional newspaper ads, sponsor banners and thank you materials.

$25,000 to the Family Service Association of Howard County provides support for the "Jackson Street Commons" project that will provide housing for homeless veterans. Grant money from federal, corporate and private donors will be used to build a 28-unit apartment complex. Participants will be allowed to stay in their apartment as long as needed while receiving addiction and mental health services, social services and on-site job training.

$1,130 to the Greentown Historical Society will be used to create a passage between two buildings occupied by the Greentown Historical Society. The additional passage will help to make supplies, equipment and collections more accessible.

$2,125 to the Greentown Main Street Association provides funding to purchase materials for a shelter at the community garden and to purchase a trailer to haul water to the garden.

$1,000 to Hemophilia of Indiana will provide support for the services provided to low income Howard County residents with a bleeding disorder.

$3,500 to the Howard County Extension Service will be used to purchase a new sound system, projector, projector software and video cameras for use during community presentations.

$3,000 to the Howard County Historical Society will be used to purchase additional signage to identify the location of the museum. The new signage will be more visible to visitors, providing greater accessibility to the museum, mansion, archives and offices.

$20,000 to the Howard County Medical Society will be used to support uninsured or underinsured Howard County residents who meet the income qualifications for Project Access and/or Dentists Delivering Smiles. Funds will be used for prescription eyeglasses and dentures.

$20,000 to Kokomo-Center Consolidated School Corporation provides matching support for a pre-school program at Elwood Haynes Elementary School for the 2012-13 school year. Free pre-school education will be provided to 20 students of qualifying families.

$4,184.50 to Kokomo Center Schools Head Start Program provides support to purchase fifty safety vests for pre-school children participating in the Head Start program as they are transported to and from school. With this purchase, all children in the program will be equipped with safety vests.

$3,500 to the Kokomo Park Band will provide partial support to purchase a professional quality sound system to use during the free concerts in Highland Park and elsewhere. The system will accommodate expanding audiences and is essential for announcements and audio reinforcement.

$3,931 to the Salvation Army provides help with the costs associated with moving the community pantry and case management offices from the basement of the church to ground level in the former day care building. Moving the pantry provides better accessibility for clients with mobility issues.

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.