Over $100,000 to be distributed by Foundation

Over $100,000 in grants to be presented to area organizations by the Clay Community Foundation.

At 8 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Spencer City Council Chambers the Clay Community Foundation will be presenting 19 Clay County organizations with over $100,000 in grants to support special projects, activities, and program expansion.

A welcome breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. Area legislators present at the event will be introduced. The program will begin at 8 a.m., with an update on the Clay Community Foundation and the presentation of grant checks to organizational representatives.

Grant applications were received in January. Applications were reviewed by the Clay Community Foundation according to the four priorities identified by the Foundation: Economic Development/Quality Job Creation, Activities (Cultural, Recreational, Social, and Educational), Utilize and Support Existing Organizations, Resources, Services, and Facilities that Contribute to Quality of Life, and Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities.

For an organization to be eligible to receive a Clay Community Foundation grant, they must be either a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization or a unit of local government. Generally, CCCF will not consider grants for religious purposes, political activities, endowment, annual fund drives, individuals, capital campaigns, budget deficit, endowment, or general operating expenses. A workshop was held In January to answer questions any applicants had prior to submitting their applications.

The Clay Community Foundation has granted annual awards to Clay County organizations since 2006. The Foundation's purpose is to be a collection point for monetary gifts and donations from both private donations and publicly received funds, from which the Foundation can then distribute the wealth back to the community. The mission of the Clay County Community Foundation is to connect donors who care with causes that matter and to serve as a trusted resource for addressing issues that impact the quality of life in Clay County. In an effort to increase awareness of the availability of grants, representatives of the Foundation have paid visits to city councils throughout the county, and utilized area media outlets.

The public is invited to join the grant recipients at the Grant Awards Event at the Spencer City Council Chambers.