The Sweet Home Community Foundation awarded nearly $14,000 to the recipients of its first grant cycle Thursday night.
“It was exactly four months ago … to the hour … where we announced the first competitive grant cycle for the Community Foundation,” Rolf Anderson, a board member, said. “Tonight is more exciting because we’re awarding the grants.”
“This evening is very exciting to me,” Foundation President Bob Burford said. “After five years of hard work by all the board members of the foundation, we have for the very first time reached ‘the fun stuff,’ distributing money to worthwhile causes in our own community.”
Six projects received funding Thursday night. They included the Sweet Home Community Pool, East Linn Museum Society, Sweet Home Emergency Ministries, Oak Heights Parent-Teacher Committee, the Department of Human Services for School District 55 and the Friends of the Library.
The pool received $2,500 to partially fund a handicap lift for the pool. Replacement of the existing, outdated lift will meet federal and state laws allowing services, such as therapy, a range of motion exercises, fitness opportunities, recreation and rehabilitation to persons with disabilities who cannot enter the pool without mechanical assistance.
The museum received $2,000 for the purchase of a computer, scanner and digital camera. The purchase will allow the museum to store digital images and information to share with other museums, schools, visitors and other groups, such as the Sweet Home Genealogical Society. The community and visitors will be able to research historical data and photos. Students will be able to view information in the classroom by borrowing discs from the museum.
SHEM received $2,500, which with additional funds, will be used to purchase an eight-by-eight refrigeration unit. In a year’s time, this refrigeration unit will help 18,000 persons to enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits that have been donated or purchased for the needy in the community.
The Oak Heights PTC received $2,230 to be used with additional funds raised by the PTC for the Read-At-Home Program. The program’s goals are to establish daily reading habits as well as a sense of accomplishment and responsibility.
The Department of Human Services received $2,250 for its Integration Project in School District 55. These funds will assist in the cost of the annual back-to-school shopping to assist children in need of clothing. Children are identified and referred by school counselors. The goal is to help a minimum of 148 students.
A $2,250 grant to the Friends of the Library will be used to help establish a used bookstore and boutique in Sweet Home. The community will benefit with the availability of books and from having a storefront occupied. Proceeds from the bookstore benefit Sweet Home Public Library. The goal is that the bookstore will become self-supporting in one year. Additional expectations include increased community involvement and enhanced reading and literacy services for Sweet Home.
The foundation is no longer a “what if,” Anderson said. “It’s now a can-do foundation.”
“These grants have been made possible because of the contribution of your friends and neighbors, the people we see every day,” Burford said. “In addition, we have partnered with the Oregon Jamboree, and a percentage of that event’s profit will from this point forward be dedicated to this program.
“Tonight, we are also announcing the kickoff of what will be an annual fund-raising cycle. You see, tonight, we will distribute nearly $14,000. But in this, our first year of seeking proposals, we are having to turn down 20 worthwhile projects totaling $24,000 more than we have.
“Our goal is that during the next grant cycle, we can evaluate each project on its merit and value to the Sweet Home community, and if it passes muster, assist every community need that comes before us.
“Therefore, I am going to ask for your help. I ask that you commit to making the foundation one of your primary charities. I myself have always supported the United Way, and I will continue to do so; however, I owe something back to the Sweet Home community.
“This year’s giving cycle is called ‘Give Where You Live,’ and in these tough times, I want to know that my generosity is being used right here – In the Sweet Home community.”
The Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public benefit foundation organized to create a self-perpetuating fund to help make Sweet Home a self-sufficient economically and socially prosperous community.
Funding for grants comes primarily from individuals, organizations and agencies. The Sweet Home Economic Development Group allocated $8,000 to the foundation from the 2002 Oregon Jamboree..
The foundation also acts as a recipient of donations for a variety of community projects, including the median strip beautification project, the high school track, Shea Point Rest Area, Longbow Camp and Rotary scholarships.