(Press release)

Waco, Texas, July 10, 2009 Waco Foundation awarded $398,167 to thirteen local nonprofit organizations that provide services to the residents of McLennan County.

The grants are for a variety of programs and projects, which will benefit individuals of all ages. Grant amounts range from just over $7,000 to Meals & Wheels for a convection oven to $200,000 to Family Health Center to assist with the expansion of the Dr. Tom Oliver 18th Street Community Clinic.

In addition to Meals & Wheels, two other recipients are using funds for kitchen improvements so that they can better serve their clients. Kids & Company is completely remodeling the Edna Street site kitchen and The Salvation Army – Waco Corp. is renovating its former thrift store into a community kitchen.

Several of the grants focus on children and youth. Arrow Child and Family Ministries is giving clothes to those in the foster care system, World Hunger Relief, Inc is expanding their educational program and Campfire USA Tejas Council - in partnership with Art Center Waco – is providing summer camp scholarships to individuals from low-income homes.

“These scholarships are so important because at the camp, kids can participate in activities that they wouldn’t get to experience this summer otherwise,” stated Ashley McClure, Executive Director of Campfire USA Tejas Council. “By having the camp with the Art Center, they get to do everything from creating really cool artwork to learning water safety at the river.”

Waco Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Salome said the Foundation likes to see nonprofits partner with other organizations. “We receive 20 to 25 applications in the spring, and again in the fall, which we carefully research and discuss,” he stated. “Before selecting the recipients, the Trustees consider a variety of factors including the population that will directly benefit, sustainability plans and, most importantly, the impact the project will have in the community.”

In its fifty-year history, the community foundation has distributed over twenty million dollars from its unrestricted and field of interest funds. As of March 31, the total assets of the funds was $30,609,458, much of which was accrued through generous bequests from Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Parrott, Stephen Goldstein and Lyle Kay Masterson.

Waco Foundation’s Board of Trustees awards grants from designated funds in a specific area, such as early childhood, but grants from unrestricted funds are completely at the discretion of the board. Foundation Trustees are Cara Chase, David Dickson, Louie Englander, Jim Haller, Jim Hawkins, Lisa Jaynes, Beth Mayfield, Bill Pakis, Tom Salome and Maggie Stinnett.

With the recent downturn in the economy, some were concerned that less funding would be available for grants. Waco Foundation Executive Director Ashley Allison acknowledged that is true with some funders, but not the Foundation. “We are able to give approximately one million dollars every year because the conservative spending policy set by our board allows us to weather declines in the market,” she said reassuringly.

For more information regarding Waco Foundation, visit www.wacofoundation.org or by contact Director of Grants and Marketing Cheryl Allen at 254-855-2259.