Henry County Foundation awards $132,000 to local organizations

The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation awarded $132,000 to 28 Henry County organizations in an award ceremony held Dec. 7 at the Union Block Building in Mt. Pleasant.

This is the 17th year that money has been granted to local organizations, it is estimated that 25,000 people in the county will benefit from the grants.

The funds come from the County Endowment Fund legislation and are the part earnings to the county from the statewide gambling proceeds and taxes.

“Our foundation received a total of $145,443. Twenty-five percent of this was restricted to permanent endowment and 75 percent was required to be released through local competitive grant making. In addition, we took $27,903 from our endowment earnings and granted them as well,” said Robert Meyer, foundation president.

There was a total of $426,000 in grant applications totaling to 38 applications, with a total of 28 applications granted.

“Our mission involves helping the communities and nonprofit organizations to help them with programs and projects that might otherwise not be available to the individuals, families and visitors to our county,” said Meyer.

One of the recipients of funds was the WACO Community School Foundation for their Project Arly, an emotional support dog who is going through training to work the school.

Another one of the recipients was the Faith Christian Outreach Center Cradle of Hope in Mt. Pleasant, where young mothers be can participate in the Earn While You Learn program.

“We are mentoring mothers while they ‘earn’ money to purchase supplies for the care of their babies,” said Peggy Knudsen of the Faith Christian Outreach Center.

“This is the most gratifying time of the year when we get to give to local organizations,” said Paul Dennison, vice president of the Foundation.