Posted on January 26, 2009

Piper Trust Awards $3.4 Million in Fourth-Quarter Grants

The Phoenix-based Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has announced forty-four grants totaling $3.4 million, balancing support for strategic projects related to arts and culture, children, and education with emergency funding for food, shelter, and medical services for Maricopa County residents most in need. The emergency grants are part of the $1 million Community Relief Grant program the trust launched last fall.

Discretionary grants announced by the foundation include $750,000 to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance for a capital campaign that will support the expansion of the alliance's food services; $600,000 to Crisis Nursery for a new day-respite program for children whose families are in crisis; $400,000 to Science Foundation Arizona for personnel and program support; $200,000 to the Expect More Arizona Fund to raise community awareness of the need to strengthen education in the state; $150,000 to the Phoenix Art Museum in support of its the Valleywide Culture Pass program; and $100,000 to the International Rescue Committee for a new interpreter program serving refuge children and their families.

"Everyone has been affected by the economic downturn, and Piper Trust is gratified to remain on track to fulfill our commitment of $26 million in grant payments for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009," said the trust's president and CEO, Judy Jolley Mohraz. "These grants are balanced between immediate support for organizations stretched to meet basic human needs and investments in longer term, planned programs within the community."

For a complete list of recipients, visit the Piper Trust Web site.