Spring Grant Award Recipients Announced
The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Switzerland County, Inc. is pleased to announce that they approved nine grant requests recently from their Community Funds. Organizations receiving grants are:
Community Mental Health Center – Intensive Youth Services (IYS) was awarded $3,500 to cover the costs to send seven at risk kids from Switzerland County to a ten day camp. IYS children are at risk for academic and behavioral challenges. Englishton Park Academic Remediation and Training Center Summer Camp in Lexington, Indiana will provide identified IYS children an effective and objectively measured summer camp program specifically focused on their needs.
The East Enterprise Volunteer Fire Department will receive $3,708 to purchase four conversion packs to refit the self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) gear to allow them to be used on one hour capacity air bottles. This upgrade will enhance the safety of the volunteer fire fighters as they protect the residents of Switzerland County.
Pathways Youth Shelter & Family Services has been awarded $3,000 to increase their services in Switzerland County by implementing the “Project Safe Place” program in the county. This is a crisis prevention and management program designed to empower children through education and resources and to enable them to seek help and ensure their safety. Safe Place works within the local community to provide certified sites in local businesses and organizations where children may seek immediate assistance if exposed to abuse, neglect, drug use, or other types of hurtful situations.
The Patriot Boat Ramp Park Committee, a committee of the Switzerland County Park Board, will receive $5,000 to help finish out phase one of the Patriot Boat Ramp Park by helping to purchase a permanent cover of rock, known as rip rap, to stabilize the river bank. The Foundation also will provide funding for two park benches to go along the walking trail.
The Switzerland County Historical Society will receive $5,000 for their Agriculture Museum Center. The center will be an interpretative and educational facility that will be available to schools, tourists and tour groups, history buffs and recreationists. The Foundation’s grant will be used to leverage additional funding through a challenge grant offered by the Jeffris Family Foundation.
The Switzerland County Nurse Managed Clinic was awarded $930 to purchase software and receive training to participate in the Electronic Medical Records program. The software will enable the clinic to send orders directly for testing and will enable patients with internet access to view their lab results from their home.
The Switzerland County Salvation Army received $5,000 for their 2011 emergency assistance program. This program will help Switzerland County residents that are in emergency situations to help cover costs of transportation for medical appointments, travel to job interviews, food, rent, utilities, prescription drugs and fire disasters.
The Switzerland County Soccer Association was awarded $3,000 to help purchase equipment that will be utilized over the next few years such as nets, balls, air pumps, field paint, medallions, uniforms, trophies and other supplies needed for a successful program to benefit the youth in Switzerland County.
The Vevay Police Department will receive $5,000 to purchase an in-car video and audio system. This system will enhance officer safety, provide one of the best possible means of evidence collection, and make our streets safer for the residents of Vevay.
These grants are made available from the following Community Funds: Community Foundation Board & Alumni Fund, William & Kathy Day Fund, Switzerland County Community Fund, Switzerland County Quality of Life Fund, Vevay Deposit Bank Fund, and the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation Fund. Community Funds provide the Foundation with the greatest flexibility in responding to the ever-changing community needs and grant requests from local nonprofit organizations.
In addition to the nine grants awarded from the Foundation’s Community Funds, the following grants were awarded earlier in the year from the Foundation’s designated and donor advised funds.
The American Legion in Vevay was awarded $200 from the Edwin C. Danner, American Legion Post 185 Scholarship Fund.
The local Angel Tree Program was awarded $200 from the Women’s Fund of Switzerland County for their back-to-school supplies program.
Community Mental Health Center – Intensive Youth Services (IYS) was awarded $500 from the Women’s Fund of Switzerland County to send a child to Englishton Park Academic Remediation and Training Center Summer Camp.
Moorefield Community Fire Department was awarded $200 from the Nick Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Mount Sterling Baptist Church was awarded a $500 grant from the Jack & Margery Aldred Memorial Fund.
Pathways Youth Shelter & Family Services was awarded $500 from the Women’s Fund of Switzerland County for their Safe Place program.
The Switzerland County Animal Shelter was awarded $427 from the Switzerland County Animal Shelter Fund in memory of John A. & Hazel M. Danglade to be used as needed.
Switzerland County EMS was awarded $1,113 from the Delores M. Cole Memorial Fund to be used as needed and was awarded $200 from the Women’s Fund of Switzerland County to be used for Andy the Ambulance.
The Switzerland County Extension Homemakers was awarded $600 from the Women’s Fund of Switzerland County for their Read, Touch, Taste (RT2) program.
Switzerland County FFA was awarded $122 from the Debbie Minch Memorial Fund to attend their annual Leadership Conference.
The Switzerland County Health Department was awarded $600 from the Women’s Fund of Switzerland County for their dental assistance program.
The Switzerland County High School Pacer Band was awarded $200 from The Pacer Band Fund and $500 from the Kevin McSwain Memorial Fund to be used as needed.
The Switzerland County Historical Society was awarded $1,200 from their endowment fund to be used as needed and was awarded $200 from the Lynn Bear Memorial Fund for their capital campaign.
The Switzerland County School Corporation was awarded $50,000 from their Technology for High School Enrichment & Adult Learning Fund.
The Switzerland County YMCA was awarded $200 from the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation Fund in memory of Ralph W. Tilley to be used as needed.
Vevay-Switzerland County Tri Kappa was awarded $302 from their endowment to be used for their charitable projects.
Developmental Services, Inc, Lifetime Resources, the East Enterprise Volunteer Fire Department, and the Switzerland County YMCA were all awarded grants from their designated endowments but chose to put the grants back into their organization’s endowment fund so that the fund could grow at a faster rate. In addition, the Switzerland County Commissioners put a portion of their grant back into the Switzerland County Quality of Life Fund.
The Community Foundation will offer one more grants cycle this year. The deadline to apply for a grant will be August 1st at 4:00 p.m. The Foundation is moving to a paperless process this year, so grant applications will need to be submitted by email. For a copy of the grant guidelines and application, visit the Foundation’s website at www.cfsci.org or stop in the Foundation’s office located at 303 Ferry Street in Vevay.