For Giving, For Good, For Benton

Don’t miss out on all the excitement!  Women from across Benton County are joining together to support a great cause…the health and well-being of women and girls in our community.  Join by September 15th to be an inaugural member in The Cookie Jar.  As a member you’ll have an opportunity to vote on the project you’d like to fund this year and be invited to our Cookie Jar Soiree scheduled for October 1st.  Check out details on our website; take advantage of the convenience of online giving!

The Foundation Board of Directors has just announced $30,000 in grants from their annual Community Grant Cycle.  We are proud to support the following programs this year:

-Earl Park Public Library, Building Repairs

-Otterbein Elementary PTO, Flouride for students

-Oxford Public Library, Convocations for Benton County Schools

-Junior Achiement, Program materials for schools

-Benton County Historical Society, Replace boiler in Museum

-Prairie Crossing Elementary, SRA Number Worlds Math Program

Congratulations to all of our winners!  We are grateful to the donors who have supported our Foundation over the years, enabling us to support these valuable projects.

On August 5th over 20 Foundation scholarship recipients picked up paintbrushes to help stain the Adventure Playground in Earl Park.  Students worked alongside other Foundation and Fall Festival volunteers during the afternoon.  In it’s second year, PIF Day is a way of our scholars to say thank you to the community for the gifts they have made toward the various scholarship funds.

In 2009 scholars made several improvements to Old Academy Park in Oxford.  The Foundation hopes to continue this program every year and complete service projects in all of our communities. 

Best of luck to all of our local college students as they head to college in the next few weeks!

The Benton County 4-H Council recently learned that the freezer they use in the food stand at the fairgrounds is out of commission.  The Foundation is pleased to award the Council a $500 grant to purchase a new freezer just in time for the fair next week.  Good Luck 4-H members!

In conjunction with National Volunteer Week, the Community Foundation recognized 15 outstanding community volunteers during the Helping Hands Awards ceremony on April 20th.  Nonprofits in the community were invited to submit nominees for the 2nd Annual program that celebrates gifts of time and talent in our community. Banquet guests enjoyed a delicous meal catered by Beutler Meats & Catering, followed by serveral entertaining songs peformed by members of the 8th Grade Choir.  The Foundation used the opportunity to thank our own Board and committee volunteers.  The evening was concluded with the announcement of the Outstanding Adult and Youth Volunteers….Norma Higley (Fowler Food Pantry) and Cassie Rodriguez (Student Union), respectively.  Joe and Marilyn Holscher of Holscher Products provided a $500 grant for each of the top volunteers organizations!

The Foundation has just released the guidelines for the 2010 Community Grant Program.  Nonprofit organizations serving the greater Benton community are eligible to apply. 

New this year, the Foundation will accept grant requests of $500 or less throughout the calendar year.  Requests, a letter outlining the program or project, must be received by the second Monday of each month to be considered for funding that month. The Foundation will accept requests of more than $500 during the annual grant cycle.  These applications are due August 3^rd, 2010 and funding will be announced by mid-September.    

Community Grant Guidelines and applications are available on the Benton Community Foundation website at www.bentoncf.org or by contacting the office at 765.884.8022.

In anticipation for National Volunteer Month, the Foundation has begun preparing for the 2nd Annual Helping Hands Awards and a campaign about the importance of volunteering in your community.  Nonprofits from around Benton County are encouraged to nominate their top volunteer for the 2010 Helping Hands Awards…it’s a great way to give them a pat on the back for all their hard work.

In addition, the Foundation would like to compile a listing of all area organizations that not only includes a little about the services they offer, but also what volunteer needs they have.  For more information about these programs contact the Foundation or check our website for more info!

The Foundation invites women of all ages in the community to join us for Girl’s Night Out this Thursday, February 4th.  We’ll enjoy the movie Shall We Dance in the historic Fowler Theatre at 7 pm.  Along with spending a great evening with your friends and family, you’ll also be introduced to The Cookie Jar…a women’s giving circle the Foundation has just launched. 

Did I mention the entire evening was free??  Hope to see you on Thursday!

The Benton Community Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce that through the close of 2009 we will be offering a match on your donations…enabling you to make an even bigger impact in your community.

Any gift of $1,000 or more to a permanently endowed fund at the Foundation will qualify for a match of 50 cents for every dollar donated.

     Ex: If a donor gives $2,000, the Foundation will add an additional $1,000 to the fund of the donor’s choice.

This match offer will expire on December 31, 2009 or when the match allotment is fully expended, whichever occurs first.  No more than $5,000 match will be allocated to any one donor.  Donations will be accepted in the form of cash or publicly-traded securities.

Donors contributing $5,000 or more may elect to create a new endowment fund supporting the charitable interest of their choice.

For more information, please contact Ashley Bice, Executive Director at 765.884.8022 or via email to ashley@bentoncf.org.