COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY AWARDS GRANTS

Nonprofit organizations awarded more than $200,400 in first half of 2015

July 17, 2015 -- The Community Foundation of Howard County has awarded more than $200,400 in competitive grants during the first half of 2015. 

“These grants are awarded from our unrestricted community endowment funds,” said Joe Dunbar, chairman of the Community Foundation of Howard County Grants Committee. “Unrestricted funds provide the best way to connect people, resources and causes to allow current needs to be addressed and to consider future needs that cannot be anticipated. To bolster our unrestricted grantmaking ability, the Foundation is partnering with Lilly Endowment’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow program to offer a match initiative until March 31, 2016. For every $1 given to an unrestricted community endowment fund, the match will be $1 – this doubles your giving. Howard County qualifies for a $1 million match. If the match is met, an extra $2 million will be put to work in the Howard County community.”

The following agencies and programs were awarded grants:

$50,000 to Bona Vista Programs will be used to help cover the costs of rebuilding and expanding the Imagine That! Innovation Center. The former building was destroyed in the November 2013 tornado. A new facility will allow for the expansion of services related to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health related issues.

$17,000 to the City of Firsts Automotive Heritage/Kokomo Automotive Museum is awarded to help purchase a 1923 Haynes Model 75 touring car.

$8,000 to Friendship Haven Retirement Community will be used to convert existing bathtubs into walk-in showers for 12 residents to enhance safety.

$2,000 to Indiana FIRST supported the City of FIRST’s District Robotics Event by covering transportation fees to bring local students to the event.

$10,000 to the Howard County Automotive Heritage Hall of Fame provides funding support for the "Apperson Brothers Statue" project. The statues will be located at the Kokomo Municipal Stadium. 

$3,000 to the Howard County Historical Society will be used to purchase computer equipment to store historic files, documents and audio recordings to ensure the preservation of the museum’s collections.

Up to $25,000 to the Howard County Promise to fund $25 per Howard County kindergarten student enrolling in the program. The program encourages students to set aside funds in a CollegeChoice 529 Savings Plan.  Research shows that a child who has designated school savings is more likely to attend and graduate from college.

$10,000 to the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library supports the “Growing the Solution Together” project designed to educate residents about the pollinator crisis. Funds will be used to provide educational materials; purchase native perennial plants; create an informational video; host speakers; install sample native gardens; provide incentives for participation and success; and banners.

$3,800 to the Kokomo ParkBand will be used to support the summer concert season. 

$5,000 to the Kokomo Symphonic Society provided support for a "Summer Concert in Foster Park" program. The Kokomo Symphony Orchestra performed with "The Rat Pack is Back" tribute performers.

$10,509 to Project Access will be used to cover expenses for Community Health Assessments. This includes a blood glucose/cholesterol machine and new educational materials to assist individuals in managing their diabetes. Funds will also be used to support the Dentists Delivering Smiles program.

$11,150 to the Sagamore Council, Boy Scouts of America will help to cover the purchase of model rockets, engines and rocket launchers for the Cub Scout membership drive. 

$45,000 to the Very Early Childhood Education Center will provide funds to support the Center in Howard County. The Center provides a free, play-based learning environment available for families, child care providers and community partners. Caregivers can go with children and learn about play-based learning through hands-on activities.

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.