Montgomery County Community Foundation awarded $171,307 in grants to 11 nonprofit agencies this week. Recipients included: Animal Welfare League, Crawfordsville Adult Resource Academy, Crawfordsville Main Street, League of Women Voters, Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society, Montgomery County IN Disabled American Veterans Chapter 103, New Richmond Town Park, North Montgomery School Corporation, Rainbows & Rhymes Preschool, South Montgomery’s Little Mounties Preschool and Youth Service Bureau.
Montgomery County Community Foundation awarded the second round of grants for 2019 on Thursday. Eleven awards were made totaling $171,307.62 as follows by area of interest:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County received $16,000 (Irwin Lee Detchon Fund) to make repairs to the aging facility to allow for the safe and efficient operation of the shelter.
Crawfordsville Main Street Program
This $7,900 grant (Herbert, Genevieve and Marian Morrison Fund) has two components: First, design is an integral part of Main Street’s “Four Point Approach” for downtown development so a portion will be used to purchase winter/holiday décor for Pike Place. The second focus is “Community Tree Education.” Main Street will provide its partners with educational brochures that cover a variety of tree topics written with the consumer in mind.
League of Women Voters received $4,400 (Dr. William and Nancy Doemel Fund; $3,750 Max K. Tannenbaum Fund) to fund a year-long celebration of the Suffrage Movement and 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. There will be an essay contest for students, trivia nights, forums and speakers, a Women’s Suffrage Walking Tour, monthly Read with the League events, reenactments and plays and much, much more.
Town of New Richmond will use a grant of $22,500 (Irwin Lee Detchon Fund) to purchase and install new playground equipment in the town’s park. Besides the direct benefit of providing a fun and safe place for children to play, it is hoped the improvements will attract and retain young families to the town.
EDUCATION
Crawfordsville Adult Resource Academy received $17,248.62 (anonymous donor) to add new technology and support to the High School Equivalency program offered at the Montgomery County Jail.
Rainbows & Rhymes Preschool received $24,580 (Irwin Lee Detchon, Nucor Fund, James G. & Susan Smith Fund and the Max K. Tannenbaum Fund) to prepare for becoming a Paths to Quality provider of extended day preschool and childcare for children ages 3-5 beginning in August 2020. This includes staff training, curriculum and safety improvements to the building.
South Montgomery School Corporation received $8,000 (Michael D. and Sally A. Hinkle Fund, Irwin Lee Detchon Fund) to provide resource materials, cozy book nooks and educational play equipment so that they can expand Little Mounties Preschool to include three year olds.
HISTORY, ARTS & CULTURE
Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society received $5,750 (Herbert, Genevieve and Marian Morrison Fund) for educational programming. From guest speakers and book readings, to Magic Lantern Shows, the year promises something of interest for everyone.
HEALTH
North Montgomery School Corporation received $11,129 (Faye O. and Anna Winter Schenck Fund) for its Health & Welfare Fund. This fund addresses the health needs of students who otherwise might not have access to it. It also provides training and various equipment to assure a safe academic environment in which all students can grow and acquire knowledge and skills to achieve their potential.
HUMAN SERVICES
Montgomery County IN DAV Chapter 103 received $17,000 (DeVon W. and Mary Jane Flaningam Fund) to be used as a match for a State grant to purchase a new van. The van will serve all veterans in Montgomery County with transportation to required medical care from the nearest VA hospital.
YOUTH
Youth Service Bureau received $36,800 (Women of Wisdom Fund, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Honoring the Rev. Chris Hotopp-Zachary, Mary Vi Leaming RN, and Meda Lorton, Tony & Cindy Cosenza Fund, Irwin Lee Detchon Fund) to support these programs. The CASA program provides a volunteer advocate for every child who is a victim of neglect/abuse. The Child Abuse Prevention program provides community education. Inspire is group mentoring for girls who are identified as needing additional support and guidance. In addition, the alternative school focuses on credit recovery for high school students.
There is one more grant cycle scheduled this year with a due date of Oct. 7. Grant guidelines and eligibility criteria can be found at www.mccf-in.org. For more information about grants or about the foundation in general, call 765-362-1267, visit online or follow the agency on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
MCCF manages more than 220 endowed funds, each established by donors with visions of making Montgomery County a better place to live. Since 1991, well over $20 million in grants and scholarships has been awarded to agencies and students in Montgomery County.
