Girl Receiving BackSack

The Scott County Community Foundation (SCCF) has awarded over $150,000 in grants to several local agencies during its 2015 Community Grants Program, announced grants committee chairperson Hank Jentzen.

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

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters, $2,000, program and operating expenses for mentoring program in Scott County
  • CASA of Scott County, $10,000, office staff to recruit, train and support community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children
  • City of Scottsburg Electric Department, $3,000, support educational and safety components of a lineworkers? rodeo to be hosted in Scott County
  • City of Scottsburg Police Department, $3,441.92, purchase digital radio system and updated flashlights
  • Dolly Parton Imagination Library, $5,000, provide free books for children from birth through age 5
  • Englishton Park, $7,000, provide tuition assistance for Scott County children to attend a summer camp remediation program
  • Gleaners Food Bank, $7,500, BackSacks program, which provides food for elementary students every weekend during the school year
  • Lexington Good Faith Preschool, $5,000, provide free preschool services for children in Lexington Township
  • New Hope Services, $7,500, scholarships to provide childcare and preschool tuition for families in need
  • Scott County Family YMCA, $10,000, after-school program for Vienna-Finley Elementary students
  • Scott County 4-H, $1,500, funding for youth to attend workshops and camps
  • Scott County 4-H Lego Robotics, $4,176, purchase VEX robotics equipment
  • Scott County Partnership ? Circles, $5,000, implement pilot high school circles program for Austin High School and youth circles program for youth ages 8-14
  • Scott County Partnership ? Clearinghouse, $4,000, provide AmeriCorps match for Clearinghouse staff
  • Scott County School District 2, $5,000, purchase speakers for outdoor sporting events at Scottsburg Middle School
  • Scott County Sheriff?s Department, $3,996.80, equip new deputies and their vehicles with radar guns
  • Scottsburg FFA, $10,000, purchase greenhouse for agriculture projects

The Donald R. Collins Sr. Family Fund was able to assist with funding for the grants to Big Brothers Big Sisters and CASA. Through the Collins family?s membership in the Forever Tree Society, earnings from the family?s fund are able to support specific charitable projects in the community.

The Board of Directors also awarded $56,406 from the Scott County CAPE?Educational Endowment Fund to the Scott County Partnership to continue educational initiatives. These include LifeSkills and guidance activities at Austin and Scottsburg middle schools, coordinate youth summer feeding program in Austin, vocational/ technical career counselor for Scottsburg High School, coordinate other educational programs including Reality Stores, Scott County Attendance Review Board, Youth/education Committee, Career Clusters, Back to School Bash and more.

The grants were also made possible from the Terry Fewell Memorial Unrestricted Fund, Addie Mae Graham Memorial Fund, Lauren Graham Memorial Fund, Hazel and Lowell Lowry Sr. 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.

?Thank you to all committee members for their efforts, time and discussions throughout the entire process,? said Jentzen.

?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 better place to live,? Jentzen continued. ?All this would not be possible without the generosity of people who establish funds and those who donate money to the SCCF.? I also want to thank the board members for their support and those who had the foresight to establish the Community Foundation.?

Now is a wonderful opportunity to make a donation or establish a fund with the Community Foundation in order to take advantage of having your dollars matched by Lilly Endowment. All donations to these unrestricted funds are currently being matched $1 for every $1 donated through a grant to Scott County Community Foundation.

For more information on the Scott County Community Foundation, call 752-2057, email info@www.scottcountyfoundation.org or stop in the office at 60 N. Main St., Scottsburg. You may also visit the website to view pictures and information at www.www.scottcountyfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/ScottCountyCommunityFoundation.