Community Foundation gives $13K in spring grants

The board of directors of the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation recently awarded grants totaling more than $13,860 to a number of local organizations for the spring of 2012.

               

                The largest portion of the grants, $6,379, came from the Kay and Oliver Williams Rushford Endowment at the Foundation, according to Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit.

               

                The fund was established in 1999 by Mr. Williams as a permanent endowment to be managed by the Foundation to provide perpetual annual grants to eight Rushford area organizations.

The 2012 grants are: First Baptist of Rushford, $999; United Methodist Church of Rushford, $999; Rushford Free Library, $999; Rushford Cemetery, $676.40; Podonque Cemetery, $676.40; Rushford Boy Scouts Pack 744, $676.40; Boys’ Conservation Camp scholarship, $676.40; and Rushford Concert Band, $676.40.

                The Salamanca Area Senior Center got a facelift thanks to a $3,000 grant to the Salamanca IDA from the Salamanca Area Senior Center Fund at the Foundation. The grant covered the cost of remodeling and construction supplies.

                A grant for $2,013.30 was made from the Southern Tier Military Support Group Fund to purchase food, snacks and other items for care packages to local troops stationed overseas. The packages were mailed by the Southern Tier Military Support Group.

               

                The Foundation awarded $1,593 from the Luella Potter Endowment Fund to the Southern Tier Catholic School System to help support the school. This fund was established in 2004 by friends of longtime teacher Luella Potter to support Catholic education in the Southern Tier through STCS.

The board also approved several grants from the Olean City School District Foundation Fund including $350 to the school district for the high school and middle school’s Health and Wellness Fair; and $193 in Gus Macker tournament expenses for meetings, permits and advertisements.

                The board also approved a grant of $200 from the Community Fund to United Way of Cattaraugus County to cover meeting expenses for the Cattaraugus County Healthy Livable Communities Consortium.

                Working with the American Red Cross, the Foundation approved a grant of $133.30 from the Community Warmth Fund for supplemental funding for emergency fuel supply for an American Red Cross client. The Community Warmth Fund was established in January to address heating and utility needs of individuals as identified by the Community Warmth Consortium.

                “The Foundation is pleased to provide this round of grants to a varied group of organizations,” Ms. Buchheit said. “Our funds are continuing to ‘grow good’ in our community by supporting a number of causes.”

Established in 1995, The Community Foundation is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in our region. Grants from the foundation support many areas including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service and youth development. To learn more, call, email or visit us online at www.cattfoundation.org.