LAWRENCE COUNTY – The Lawrence County Community Foundation (LCCF) Board of Directors awarded over $69,000 in Impact Grants to eighteen local agencies through the 2022 LCCF Open Grant Cycle. Earlier this summer, LCCF awarded Boost Grants totaling $11,877 to eight organizations through the 2022 Open Grant Cycle.
The Community Foundation is governed by a volunteer board whose mission is to improve the quality of life in Lawrence County for this generation and generations to come. The Community Foundation accepts and manages individual and business contributions made to permanent endowments, some of which fund the annual grant cycle.
In addition to the $60,866 awarded Thursday, challenge grants totaling $8,500 were issued to the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County and Green Hill Cemetery Association. A challenge grant provides matching funds, helping organizations gain public awareness of their project goals and raise funds for their mission. Once the challenge amount is raised, a grant check is presented to the organization.
Kim Sipes chaired the LCCF Grants Committee this year, “This year’s grants cover a wide range of projects representing the needs throughout the community and give us a great overview of the work these organizations are doing. It is impressive what is being accomplished.”
The Lawrence County Community Foundation is a public charity recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to be proactive in creating and growing an enduring source of charitable assets, and to identify and respond to the changing needs of Lawrence County.
Below is a summary of how each organization will use the awarded funding:
- BNLHS Band & Music Boosters – $10,000 toward the purchase of a new semi-trailer to replace their 30-year-old trailer. The trailer will safely transport band instruments and equipment to competitions and performances throughout the region.
- Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County – Up to $6,000 (2:1 challenge) to purchase AED units.
- First Christian Church of Bedford – $3,999 to make the Bedford Camp and Conference Center playground accessible to children with limited mobility.
- Friends of Spring Mill State Park – $3,650 total was awarded; $1,150 for equipment to be used in the Pioneer Print Shop and $2,500 to improve the accessibility of the Nature Center.
- Green Hill Cemetery Association – $2,500 (1:1 Challenge) to repair and replace the wrought iron fencing surrounding the cemetery.
- Hoosier Hills Food Bank – $4,000 to put toward the cost of a new refrigerated truck that will serve Lawrence and surrounding counties.
- Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma Epsilon Chapter – $500 to defray the cost of buses during the Spring Mill State Park Candlelight Tour.
- Knights of Columbus, Council 1166 – $3,000 to replace furniture in the LARC common area where clients gather for lunch and large group activities.
- Lawrence Co. 4-H Council, Inc. – $5,070 to provide opportunities for social engagement and leadership development in the youth of our community.
- Lawrence Co. Historical and Genealogical Society – $4,605 to provide the technology needed to inventory artifacts and record Lawrence County history.
- Lawrence Co. Independent Schools – $1,500 to provide gardening supplies for their Phoenix Garden Club Farm to Table program.
- Marshall Township VFD – $4,700 to provide a ventilation system to remove smoke and fumes from structures making it safer for firefighters.
- Raptors Rise Rehabilitation Center – $2,300 Urban Owl program which will educate participants on the importance of Screech Owls and provide each participant with a nest box kit.
- Salvation Army Lawrence County – $4,000 to provide assistance to Lawrence County residents facing unexpected financial setbacks and other urgent needs.
- Stone City Alliance for Recovery & Hope – $5,980 to provide bunk beds for the Men’s Warming Shelter.
- Stonegate Arts & Education Center – $1,400 to provide microphones/headsets and props for their Kids Arts Camp.
- White River Humane Society – $4,000 for the spay and neuter program.
- Youth First – $2,162 to provide technology support for the Youth First social worker at Mitchell Community Schools.
