The grants approved in May from each endowment are:
Endowment for the Future of Northwest Mississippi:
Family Biz Builder in Tunica County awarded $3,000 for the Biz Builder Sports Fitness summer employment opportunity-training program. Family Biz Builders is an 8-month program that focuses on character and life skills for youth leadership and transition to adulthood. Workshops range from Character & Life Skills to tennis and golf lessons
The Marks Project in Quitman County awarded $4,000 as a challenge grant to build a website that will profile the Marks Project and its efforts to help improve Quitman County in the areas of education, recreation and economic development. Local stakeholders have been meeting for a year to address the immediate needs of Quitman County and Marks.
Coahoma County Higher Education Center awarded $2,500 for Camp ROCK, a children’s summer health camp targeting ages 7-12. Camp ROCK participants complete a pre and post test, physical activity, team-building skills, and interaction with a registered dietitian.
Tutwiler Community Education Center in Tallahatchie County awarded a $100.00 grant in honor of the organization’s 25th Celebration Event Saturday, June 17 at 5 p.m.
Volunteer Northwest Mississippi, a program of the community foundation and serving the 11-county region, awarded $6,142.50 to fund expenses relating to the volunteer activities conducted during the year. Volunteer Northwest Mississippi provides workshops for non-profits at low-cost, coordinates volunteers for monthly DeSoto County food distribution to needy families, presents annual President’s Volunteer Service Awards, coordinates the Corporate Volunteer Council, hosts Martin Luther King Day activity, hosted (with the community foundation) the first DeSoto County Hunger Summit.
Place-Based Education and Civic Entrepreneurship Endowment:
Independence Arts Conservatory and Conference Center serving DeSoto, Marshall, Panola, and Tate counties awarded $10,000 to continue to provide a Place and Programs for weekly, year-round training and performance opportunities in drama, vocal music and the visual arts for students grades 3-12 including First Saturday classes; Summer Drama Camp, musical productions, three plays, vocal concerts, and visual art shows.
Early Childhood Education Endowment:
The Coahoma County Diaper Bank serving Coahoma, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Tunica County awarded $6,000 to sustain and continue to grow the Coahoma County Diaper Bank, an early childhood resource center which receives early childhood donations and distributes emergency baby supplies for families in need.
First Regional Library for Words on Wheels serving DeSoto, Tate, Tunica, and Panola County awarded $8,200. The Book Mobile visits daycare and HeadStart centers offering educational opportunities for pre-school age.
Mississippi Coats 4 Kidz serving Coahoma, Leflore, Panola, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Tunica counties awarded $5,000 to give low-income children in the region a new coat.
Technology in Education Endowment:
The Baddour Center located in Tate County awarded $3,500 to purchase a Promethean Board for Skills for Achieving Independent Living, one of four programs at the residential center for adults with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities.
The Community Foundation manages 235 donor-established funds and has distributed $18.3 million to support more than 420 charitable organizations and activities recommended by its donors, as well as charitable programs established by the foundation. Established in 2002 with a generous grant from the Maddox Foundation, the Community Foundation is an independent 501.c.3 charitable organization. The Foundation serves Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Leflore, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Tunica counties. A board of 20 volunteer civic leaders governs the Community Foundation. Learn more about the Community Foundation at www.cfnm.org or call 662.449.5002.