Posted on July 11, 2009

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Community Foundation Update (7/11/09)

California

The Costa Mesa Community Foundation has awarded nearly $45,000 in grants for a series of summer concerts and a city-run maintenance program, which the city council had previously voted to eliminate, the Daily Pilot reports. A grant of $38,000 will enable the city to continue Neighbors for Neighbors, a program whose volunteers use city-provided tools and materials to repaint rundown homes and clean up parks, while a $4,000 grant will be used to underwrite a scaled-down version of the concert series.

The Carlsbad Community Foundation will cut back on its giving during the fiscal year that began on July 1, the Current-Argus reports. According to executive director Jim Harrison, the foundation typically sets aside some $20,000 for Christmas donations to local charities that aid those in need. This year, however, it has allocated $7,000 for such that purpose. Nevertheless, the foundation plans to distribute more than $1 million during its current fiscal year.

Connecticut

Stamford-based ARI of Connecticut has announced a $10,000 grant from the Norwalk-based Fairfield County Community Foundation. The grant was awarded through the foundation's Sternbach Fund for People with Disabilities, which supports respite care programs serving caregivers of adults with disabilities.

Florida

The Fort Myers-based Southwest Florida Community Foundation has awarded $86,000 to United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties in its role as fiscal sponsor of the Hunger Task Force of Southwest Florida, the Fort Myers Florida Weekly reports. The grant will be used to support the Hunger Task Force's H.E.L.P. Initiative (Hunger Eradicated by Local Partnerships) and requires that the recipient collaborate with other local organizations.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice has announced the election of Lisa Carlton, Jay McHargue, and Henry Rodriguez to its board of directors. The board also elected Tiffany Taylor as chair and Dorothy Korszen as vice chair for its 2009-10 fiscal year, which began July 1.

Minnesota

The Minneapolis Foundation has named Mark Chronister as its new board chair and appointed Jan Conlin, Robert Fullerton, Lowell Stortz, and Jane Wyatt to its board. The foundation also announced Jo-Anne Stately as its new director of grantmaking and special projects.

Nevada

The Reno-based Community Foundation of Western Nevada has awarded grants totaling $103,500 to twenty-one organizations, including several working to help residents in need as a result of the recession, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports. Recipients include Catholic Community Services, the Crisis Call Center, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, and the HAWC Community Health Center.

Ohio

The Cleveland Foundation has announced the creation of a Basic Needs Fund and the launch of Greater Cleveland Area Pulse. The needs fund will support organizations working to provide basic human services in the region, while Pulse is an online data indicator designed to show how the recession is affecting Cuyahoga County residents and how the foundation is responding. Using statistics provided by the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development at Case Western Reserve University, the application tracks monthly data related to the number of county residents receiving food stamps, children receiving Medicaid assistance, foreclosures, and unemployment rate.

Tennessee

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has named Bert Mathews, Deborah Tate, and David Williams to its board of trustees.

Blank, Alan. “Pledge Saves Concerts.” Daily Pilot 7/07/09.

“ARI of Connecticut, Inc. Awarded $10,000 From Fairfield County Community Foundation for Respite Program.” ARI of Connecticut Press Release 7/09/09.

“The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Names New Board Members.” Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Press Release 6/24/09.

Davis, Stella. “Carlsbad Community Foundation to Cut Giving.” Carlsbad Current-Argus 6/25/09.

“Community Foundation Awards Initiative Grant to Fight Hunger.” Fort Myers Florida Weekly 7/08/09.

“Local Nonprofits Receive $103,500 in Hard Economy.” Reno Gazette-Journal 7/05/09.

“The Minneapolis Foundation Names New Board Chair, Trustees, and Director of Grantmaking and Special Projects.” Minneapolis Foundation Press Release 7/07/09.

“Foundation Board Elects Officers, New Members.” Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice Press Release 7/07/09.

“Cleveland Foundation Introduces Basic Needs Fund and Economic Crisis Indicators.” Cleveland Foundation Press Release 7/07/09.

Primary Subject: Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Secondary Subject(s): Economic Crisis
Location(s): California, Cleveland, Connecticut, Costa Mesa, Florida, Fort Myers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Reno, Stamford, Tennessee

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