COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY AWARDS GRANTS

Non-profit organizations awarded more than $251,900 in 2016

January 4, 2017 -- The Community Foundation of Howard County has awarded more than $251,900 in 2016, including $105,847 awarded in the first half of the year.

"Howard County has a variety of interests and projects to support," said Joe Dunbar, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Grants Committee. "These grants are awarded from our community endowment unrestricted funds that donors have contributed to with the intent to support needs that benefit the citizens of Howard County now and in the future. We are grateful for our donors' foresight and generosity that ensure continued support for the community."

The following agencies and programs were awarded grants during the second half of 2016:

$25,000 awarded to Howard County nonprofits through a series of $1,000 drawings in celebration of the Community Foundation of Howard County's 25th anniversary. The following nonprofits received $1,000 grants: Acacia Academy, Birthright, BLUSH, Bona Vista Programs, City of Firsts Automotive Heritage Museum, Delmar E. Demaree Kokomo Family YMCA, F.D. Reese Christian Academy, Family Service Association of Howard County, Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, Habitat for Humanity of the Kokomo Community, Howard County Historical Society, Howard County Veterans Memorial, Kokomo Humane Society, Kokomo Park Band, Kokomo Rescue Mission, Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, Literacy Coalition, Mental Health Association, Project Access, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission, Sagamore Council Boy Scouts, The Crossing, United Way of Howard County, Very Early Childhood Education Center and We Care.

$42,416 to Ball State University to fund research for kindergarten readiness as it pertains to preschool need, quality and availability.

$1,400 to Gilead House will be used towards consulting services from Indiana Youth Institute that focuses on fund development and preparation of a three-year plan of action to build resources and enhance programs.

$12,000 to the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network for capacity building through board development workshops for Howard County nonprofits to strengthen programs and help with sustainability.

$50,000 the Howard County Historical Society provides matching support for the "Capital Campaign – Slate Roof Project" to replace the Seiberling Mansion's 125-year-old slate roof. Grant money will be used to match community dollars raised for the project.

$5,000 to IVY Tech Community College supports the 2017 "Doing the Dream" program featuring Iyanla Vanzant an inspirational speaker, lawyer, spiritual teacher, author, life coach and television personality. She will speak at a public banquet and address area high school students at the Kokomo Event Center.

$5,000 to Kokomo Community Concerts will be used to offset costs associated with six concerts and two student outreach programs for the next season. The school outreach performances are attended by all of the Kokomo schools, grades 4-6, as well as participation from Eastern and Western School corporations, Acacia Academy and home-schooled students.

$4,000 to Kokomo High School for the TechnoKats Robotics Team provides funding for needed updates to the functionality of the New Year's Eve ball used in the evening's festivities in downtown Kokomo, including higher density graphics, improved reliability and a video display.

$1,250 to Western School Corporation supports the "2017 Howard County Music Festival-Commissioned Piece" program. Grant money will be used to cover part of the expenses for the two-day event hosted by a different school on a rotating basis. Composer Michael Sweeny is recognized internationally for his composition, which is particularly accessible to high school students. Three hundred students from the combined bands of Western, Northwestern, Eastern and Taylor will practice and perform the piece. The custom-written piece will be available to other groups when the piece is published.

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.