The board of directors of the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation recently awarded grants totaling more than $55,000 to a number of local organizations for the first quarter of 2011.
The largest portion of the grants, $22,000, came from the F. Donald Kenney Endowment at the Foundation, according to Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit.
The fund established by the F. Donald Kenney Foundation supports artists in the Southern Tier through the Cattaraugus County Arts Council. This grant will help fund the council’s Southern Tier Biennial art show Sept. 17 – Oct. 22, 2011, in conjunction with the Olean Public Library.
The arts council also received $1,000 from the F. Donald Kenney Endowment for furniture and office supplies at the council’s new location on Main Street in Allegany.
A third grant of $1,000 from the Visual Arts Alliance Fund, established to support visual arts programming in the Olean area, also was awarded to the arts council for the Southern Tier Biennial.
The board also approved several grants from the Olean City School District Foundation Fund including $8,684 in Gus Macker proceeds to the Olean Sports Boosters for a score board; $3,500 to the Board of Education for the commission of a 9/11 music piece to be performed by Olean middle and high school music students; $540 for a Gus Macker workshop; $459 for new video equipment at Olean High School; and $500 to help fund the Olean High Interact Club and their various activities.
Grants totaling $8,846 came from the Kay and Oliver Williams Rushford Endowment Fund
The fund, established in 1999 by Mr. Williams, benefits eight Rushford area organizations with annual grants as listed: First Baptist of Rushford, $1,386; United Methodist Church of Rushford, $1,386; Rushford Free Library, $1,386; Rushford Cemetery, $937; Podonque Cemetery, $937; Rushford Boy Scouts Pack 744, $937; Boys’ Conservation Camp scholarship, $937; and Rushford Concert Band, $937.
The Village of Allegany received a grant of $5,274 from the Allegany Community Beautification Fund for Christmas decorations and holiday activities for the village.
The Foundation awarded $2,000 from the Community Fund to the Chautauqua Blind Association to help support the purchase of a new vehicle. Ms. Buchheit noted that the Association provides services to residents of Cattaraugus County.
Olean General Hospital received an annual distribution of $1,145 from the Lewis and Doris Reisner Endowment.
A grant for $250 was made from the Southern Tier Military Support Group Fund to the Allegheny Highlands Boy Scout Council as a memorial for Lance Cpl. Aaron Swanson.
A grant of $125 from the Rose Pappas Fund was given to St. Mary of the Angels Church for a special project.
“The Foundation is pleased to provide this round of grants to a varied group of organizations,” Ms. Buchheit said.
Funding requests from the Foundation’s Community Fund will be considered in two funding cycles this year, with deadline for applications on May 2 and November 1.
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.
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