The Board of Directors at the Community Foundation of Dunn County recently awarded over $36,000 in grants to 12 local charitable organizations in areas such as basic human needs, the environment, health and education in its first competitive grant cycle for 2018.Grants were presented at the Foundation’s Annual Luncheon on April 26. (A group of attendees pictured at right.)
These grants are provided by CFDC funds created by local families, philanthropists, corporations and private foundations for the charitable investment in our community: The Common Good Fund, the Healthy Futures Fund, the Clarence Heckle Fund, the Elizabeth Fenton Fund for Health, the Betty Gesche Fund and the Theodore E. and Emma-Lou Rod Wiehe Fund. The recipients of this competitive grant cycle include:
Alano Club of Menomonie: Great Room Multi Media System, $776
The Arc of Dunn County, Inc.: Online HR System, $2,500
Boyceville Community School District: Science Olympiad 3D Printer, $6,128
Cops 4 Kids: Menomonie Police Dept. Cops 4 Kids Program, $1,000
Community for Veterans: Expanded Transitional Housing for Veterans, $4,000
Dunn County Historical Society: “Make It!” Summer Children’s Program, $1,460
Menomonie Public Library Foundation: Wi-Fi Hotspots To-Go, $2,400
School District of the Menomonie Area: MHS Swim & Dive Team Equipment, $2,500
Soft Landing Transition Services, LLC: Services for Persons in Recovery, $3,500
UW-Stout STEPS for Girls: Building Opportunities through Leadership Development, $1,446
Village of Colfax: Colfax Rescue CPR Manikins, $7,506
West CAP: Menomonie Farmer’s Market Outreach & Education, $3,000
Grant Highlights:
Since 2010 The Community for Veterans has provided support and resources for returning veterans, especially by offering substance-free, affordable housing. The current space accommodates three tenants. The grant will allow the organization to complete the remodel of the basement, which will double the occupancy to six. Pictured at right: CFDC Board Member Katie Mattison; Community for Veterans representatives Charlie Olson and Terrel Sutliff; and CFDC Board Chair Clint Moses.
For low-income households, broadband internet is unaffordable, and for some rural residents, it is unavailable. The Menomonie Public Library currently has 14 mobile Wi-Fi hotspots that can connect to the Internet at no charge. Because of the consistent waiting list for the hotspots, the Menomonie Public Library Foundation will use the funding to purchase ten additional devices for library patrons to check out. (At left, Ted Stark, Director of the Menomonie Public Library and Naomi Cummings, Executive Director of Bridge to Hope.)
Upcoming grant deadlines are June 1, 2018 for the Women’s Giving Circle and August 1, 2018 for the final round of Community Foundation competitive grants. Complete details and forms can be found online at www.cfdunncounty.org/grants.