The Scott County Community Foundation has awarded almost $67,000 in grants to several local agencies during its 2011 Community Grants Program, announced grants committee chairperson Hank Jentzen. The recipients will be formally recognized at the Foundation’s “Thanks4Giving” fall dinner this November. Over $37,000 was awarded from the unrestricted funds.

The organizations, the amount awarded and the purpose of the request are:

• American Red Cross, $430 to provide funding for in-school programs, Basic Aid Training and First Aid for Children Today

• Austin Middle School, $1,889 to purchase appliances for use in teaching life skills to students with special needs

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Scott County, $750 to purchase a laptop computer for the program manager to conduct interviews and log case notes from remote locations

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Scott County, $600 for group activities at the elementary schools for the school-based mentoring program

• Blessings in a Backpack, $5,500 to provide food for children in Scott County School District 2 and Austin Elementary School who have little or no food on the weekends

• Lexington Good Faith Preschool, $5,000 to provide free preschool services for the children of Lexington Township

• LifeSpan Resources, $5,000 to provide matching funds for a vehicle for the transportation of elderly and disabled citizens in Scott County

• Preservation Alliance, Inc., $2,500 to provide financial support to the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum

• Scott County 4-H Council, $2,100 to allow youth of all ages to participate in 4-H

• Scott County Partnership - Clearinghouse, $5,000 to assist financially needy families with rent or utilities in the winter months.

• Scott County Sheriff’s Department, $6,375 to purchase three in-car Mobile Data Terminals to be utilized during the course of traffic, crash and criminal investigations

• Scottsburg High School, $2,000 to provide students access to fitness equipment, and exercise and nutrition education.

In addition, the Board of Directors awarded $29,743 from the Scott County CAPE Educational Endowment Fund to the Scott County Partnership to continue educational initiatives.

“As in years past, the grants committee had a difficult time deciding which organizations to award grants,” said Executive Director Jaime Toppe. “With $144,000 in requests, it was an extremely competitive process and there were so many deserving projects. The Scott County Community Foundation would like to congratulate those who have received funding, and thank all the applicants for their desire to make Scott County a great community to live in.”

The grants were made possible from the Donald R. Collins Sr. Family Fund, Addie Mae Graham Memorial Fund, Lauren Graham Memorial Fund, L.L. and Juanita Lowry Unrestricted Fund, John and Janice Martin Unrestricted Fund, Dr. William and Diann Scott Unrestricted Fund, Scott County Immediate Response Fund, Scott County Memorial Fund and the Community Enrichment Fund.

To view photos of the recipients, visit www.scottcountyfoundation.org/photos.htm or www.facebook.com/ScottCountyCommunityFoundation.