The Truman Lake Community Foundation handed out its fall grants, totaling over $30,000, to 13 area organizations during its donor appreciation event last week. The Foundation awards grants to community organizations in the spring and fall and awarded $33,000 in grants earlier this year.
Fall grants included $3,100 to the Clinton Fire Department for radio upgrade equipment, and $2,000 for a technical upgrade to help the Inspector program for homes and buildings to do online reporting. The Golden Apples Senior Community Project in Appleton City received $3,000. Henry County Library was awarded $500 to upgrade equipment used for kids who call in to hear a story over the phone. The Clinton School District received $1,600 to expand its interactive math program. Lowry City Community Betterment was awarded $5,000 for ball field renovation. $500 was awarded to the Living Waters Foundation in Osceola for its special-needs day camp program. The Sherwood Cass R-VIII School District received $600 to help stock its closet for needy kids. $4,500 was given to the Nancy Calvird Shoe Fund for underprivileged kids. The Angel Tree, in Clinton, received $2,500 to use for gifts for needy families. The Clinton Boy Scouts received $4,900 to help scouts that can’t afford summer camp. The Birthday Blessings program was awarded $5,000 to help foster kids celebrate their birthdays. And, $500 was awarded to a Clinton school (name unknown) for a field trip.
The Foundation president, Jim Cook, said that he is committed to his organization, and that Americans in general are generous people, but it is so nice when philanthropic people donate to the local community.
“Application for one of our fall grants is open online during the month of August to 501(c) organizations, and is advertised in the newspaper,” said Cook. “In September a five-member committee goes over the applications and recommends grants to those organizations requesting funding for programs that best serve the community. Then the 15-member Foundation Board votes for funding the grants. The same system is used for grant awards in the spring.”
Cook stated that the Foundation Board is made up of volunteers and is an umbrella for 130 or 140 groups who collect funds to help in the community. Some of these other groups are set up by organizations and families, and many offer scholarships. He said that the Foundation has funds that it uses for its grants in the spring and fall. But the Foundation also helps some of its umbrella organizations handle their money and taxes, while they decide who to give grants to. Sometimes an umbrella organization will also ask the Foundation to select who should benefit from its charitable grants.
“We supply an avenue for other groups and individuals to give grants without worrying about overwhelming paperwork,” said Cook. “Our Foundation also gets assistance with accounting from CFO in Springfield, a huge organization that allows smaller organizations to remain volunteer.”
In addition to President Cook, other Foundation Board members are Meredith Cooper, Vice President; Sandie Sorbo, Secretary; Nina Sisk, Treasurer; and Kristi Kenney, Historian. Officers normally service up to two three-year terms. The Foundation was founded on May 15, 2000, and according to its website has distributed more than $6.2 million in grants to the community.
