COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY AWARDS GRANTS

Nonprofit organizations awarded more than $105,800 during second half of 2013

December 20, 2013 -- The Community Foundation of Howard County has awarded $105,800 in competitive grants during the second half of 2013. Combined with the first half total of $50,000, this brings the total of competitive grants awarded to $155,800 for the year.

"These grants support a wide range of interests throughout Howard County," said Joe Dunbar, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Grants Committee. "Our donors have varied interests so this is a good way to connect donor giving to the community. The competitive grant process helps to fund projects with the greatest need. We thank our donors for wanting to improve the quality of life in their community through the Foundation."

The following agencies and programs were awarded grants:

$4,800 to 4 Precious Paws Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic provides funding to complete renovations to the new clinic. Grant money will be used to help complete the dog and cat rooms, office space, break room and surgical suite. The clinic will primarily serve lower income individuals, animal shelters and rescue organizations.

$1,000 to the Book Readers and Horn Blowers supports the "George Gershwin: American Master" program at Taylor Primary and Intermediate schools. During an interactive school convocation, a professional story teller explores the story of Gershwin's life and work accompanied by a brass quintet playing his music.  This is followed by a donation of books to the school library and an opportunity for students to hold and play instruments.

$15,000 to the Crossing Education Center will provide funding support for "The Crossing Job Training Program" for at-risk teens in Howard County.  The Job Training Program will partner with Advantage Housing to provide at-risk teens with the opportunity to learn life skills, work experience, soft-skill training, and application and resume preparation. Students will work with Advantage Housing to restore distressed houses in the community in order to help meet the need for quality, affordable housing. The grant will serve as seed money to renovate the first home and launch the ongoing strategy for sustainability.

$2,000 to First Christian Church provides funding support for the "Happy Teeth Clinic" program. Grant money will be used to provide second grade students with a dental exam and a sealant applied to molars of those students who have no cavities. Exams are performed by Ivy Tech Community College dental students and volunteer dentists. Parents of students with dental issues are informed and given possible options for intervention.

$40,000 to Inventrek Technology Park and the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance provides seed money for the CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program. The CEO program will be offered to Howard County high school juniors and seniors and covers the basics of conceptualizing, and starting and running a small business. The class meets in local businesses and changes location every nine weeks. 

$5,000 to Ivy Tech Foundation provides partial funding in support of the "Doing the Dream 2014" program. Author Wes Moore will present an afternoon program aimed primarily for high school and college students discussing how small choices can make a difference in anyone"s life.  He will encourage participants to think about the choices that they make and to take advantage of local support systems such as families, mentors, teachers and friends. 

$4,000 to the Kokomo Art Association and the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance will provide funding support for the "Artist Alley" project. Grant money will be used to create an outdoor art gallery to showcase painting, sculpture and multi-dimensional artwork by students, non-profit organizations, graffiti artists and local artists. Artist Alley is located between the Howard County administrative building and the Artworks Gallery.

$12,000 to the Kokomo Historic Review Board provides partial funding to help purchase historical marker signs that identify key points of interest in the community. 

$17,000 to Mental Health America in matching funds to help purchase a van to provide transportation for consumers to events, donation pick up and moving assistance.

$5,000 to Sagamore Council, Boy Scouts of America will be used to renovate the organization's basement after flooding.  The area contains office space and meeting rooms.

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.