Grants totaling nearly $100,000 are going out to 30 nonprofit community organizations as a result of the foundation's annual competitive proposal review.

Awards will benefit vulnerable people of every age, from newborn infants to the elderly.

Three organizations committed to helping older residents of Douglas County remain in their homes received funding. Douglas County Senior Services will upgrade communications systems that support the Senior Wheels program. Meals on Wheels will provide “Blizzard Bags” containing shelf-stable meals to clients so they will have something to eat if bad weather prevents normal meal delivery. Midland Care Connection will purchase furniture for a new day respite program for elderly residents whose caregivers are employed.

In keeping with its tradition of supporting children’s well being, the foundation provided funding for infant resuscitation training at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and to six Lawrence organizations that serve at-risk children. Community Children’s Center and Ballard Community Services will buy curriculum materials for their early childhood education programs. The Villages will refurbish Lawrence group homes, and the Shelter will provide shoes to children who enter foster care without adequate footwear. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Van Go Mobile Arts will purchase art supplies and learning materials to be used by youth in their programs.   

Other grants went to the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center for anxiety treatment programs, to the St. Luke AME Second Century Fund to preserve the structural integrity of the landmark church, and to the Lumberyard Arts Center project which is creating a home for the arts in Baldwin City.

“The foundation board had more difficulty this year than ever before,” said board chair Mike Davis.  “The needs in our community are great and the resources available to us were diminished by the economic turmoil of the past year.  It was frustrating to everyone on the board to see so many worthwhile requests be either cut back substantially or denied entirely. We all look forward to a brighter day.”