Representatives from the Ridgeland Area Library accept their grant award for a basement remodel project at an annual event.
The Board of Directors at the Community Foundation of Dunn County recently awarded over $35,000 in grants to 14 local charitable organizations in areas such as basic human needs, the environment, health and education in its second and final competitive grant cycle for 2017.
These grants are provided by CFDC funds created by local families, philanthropists, corporations and private foundations for the charitable investment in our community: The Elizabeth Fenton Fund for Health, the Clarence Heckle Fund, the Betty Gesche Fund, the Theodore E. and Emma-Lou “Rod” Wiehe Fund, the Healthy Futures Fund, and the Common Good Fund. The recipients of this competitive grant cycle include:
Boyceville Community Ambulance District: Safety Equipment: Helmets, ANSI Jackets & Vests – $3,857
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley: Summer Member Scholarships – $5,000
Children’s Museum of Eau Claire: Sky Stories: Planetarium Outreach Program – $1,000
Colfax Railroad Museum, Inc.: Colfax Heritage Events Site Development – $2,000
Dunn County Dementia Coalition: Dunn County Communities Becoming Dementia Friendly – $4,984
Dunn County Humane Society: Pets for Seniors and Vets – $625
Girl Scouts of the NW Great Lakes, Inc.: Leadership Experience STEM Program – $2,175
Indianhead Enterprises Inc: Janitorial Equipment – $3,091
Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts: Children’s Series 2017-2018 – $1,000
Reach Out And Read – Mayo Clinic Red Cedar: Pediatric Literacy Program – $2,200
Ridgeland Area Library: Basement Remodel for Expanded Programming – $2,500
The Arc of Dunn County, Inc.: Community Program Meeting Space – $2,925
The Bridge To Hope: Comfort and Safety for Shelter Victims – $4,191
A grant was also awarded to Stepping Stones of Dunn County: Food Pantry Support – $4,000 through the Tuesday’s Table Fund of the Community Foundation of Dunn County through this cycle.
Grant Highlights:
The Dunn County Dementia Coalition recently formed in an effort to help create an educated and supportive community for those living with dementia. It is estimated that over 700 Dunn County residents are living with some type of dementia according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and agitation can create uncomfortable and unsafe situations in the community when people are unprepared to appropriately respond and support someone experiencing these symptoms.
The Coalition received grant funding to provide short training sessions to interested businesses and organizations to help educate the community on the symptoms of dementia so we as a community can better serve and support those affected. Trainings aim to: help people identify dementia symptoms early, inform participants on the community resources available, and ensure an overall improved experience for both the persons experiencing dementia symptoms and the community members interacting with them. Businesses or groups interested in participating in the training can contact the Dunn County Aging & Disability Resource Center for more information.
The Colfax Railroad Museum received grant funding to help establish a Heritage Festival event in Colfax to attract local and regional visitors to the museum and to the community. With the help of the Colfax Commercial Club, they plan to host an annual festival to bring tourism to the area and celebrate the culture and heritage of the Colfax community.
Grant funding was awarded specifically to lay train tracks and prepare the grounds to install a small, fully operational train with cars and tracks to give patrons train rides as part of the Heritage Event and also as a continuing attraction for the Railroad Museum, which families can utilize for gatherings, birthday parties, field trips, etc.
Congratulations to all of the August 2017 Grant Recipients. The next Community Foundation grant deadline is February 1, 2018. Complete details and forms can be found online at www.cfdunncounty.org.