Community Foundation grants $50,000 to local organizations
The Board of Directors at the Community Foundation of Dunn County recently awarded over $50,000 in grants to 22 local nonprofit and charitable organizations in areas such as basic human needs, the environment, health and recreation in its second and final competitive grant cycle for 2016.
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. These funds were created for the betterment of Dunn County and to enrich the lives of those who live here. The recipients of this competitive grant cycle include:
Two beneficiaries of this cycle’s grants help illustrate the range of programs funded and populations supported by the Community Foundation:
• Arbor Place, Inc.: Youth Mental Health First Aid Training, $6,190
• The Arc of Dunn County, Inc.: Computers for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, $700
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW WI, 1-to-1 Match Youth Mentoring in Dunn County, $500
• Boyceville Community Ambulance District: Community-wide CPR & First Aid Training, $5,000
• Boyceville Community School District: Motivational Speaker on Anti-Bullying & Tolerance, $1,000
• Boyceville Police Department: Protective Equipment for Boyceville PD, $1,569
• Boyceville Public Library: Refurbish Handicap Ramp/Entrance, $3,000
• Chippewa Valley Fund Raising Professionals: Non-Profit Development Training, $1,000
• City of Menomonie: Signage for Menomonie Trail System, $2,000
• Community for Veterans: Transitional Housing for Veterans Basement Remodel, $5,000
• Feed My People Food Bank: Dunn County Fresh Produce Initiative, $5,000
• Glenwood City Ambulance Service: Stryker Power Lift Cot, $1,000
• House Calls of Menomonie: Guardian & Representative Payee Services Computers, $1,000
• Junior Achievement of WI, Inc.: Personal Finance & Career Exploration Program, $500
• Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts: Color Printer, $700
• Menomonie Area Mountain Bike Association: FixIt Bicycle Repair Station Installation, $2,000
• Menomonie High School Sports Complex: High Jump Landing Mat, $2,378
• Reach, Inc. Menomonie Annex: Menomonie Annex Sit-to-Stand Lift Device, $2,500
• Stepping Stones of Dunn County: Shelter Family Rental Assistance, $2,500
• United Way of Dunn County: Data Management Software, $1,500
• Village of Wheeler: Village of Wheeler Equipment, $4,788
• West Wisconsin Land Trust: Dunn County Land Protection, $500
Arbor Place provides prevention, treatment, renewal and recovery opportunities to individuals and families impacted by substance abuse and dependence. In addition to direct services, Arbor Place coordinates two county-wide initiatives: the Dunn County Partnership for Youth and the Dunn County Mental Health Improvement Project, a federally funded initiative they’ve launched with UW-Stout to train local adults to become more effective in addressing behavioral health issues affecting 16-24 year olds. They have been awarded a $6,190 grant from the Community Foundation to bring the Mental Health Improvement training to local high school staff to address mental health issues at an earlier age, applying it to 12-18 year-olds. Grant funding will allow two behavioral health professionals to become certified instructors in the evidence-based, youth version of the Mental Health First Aid program. The instructors will be able to provide training sessions to school staff across Dunn County and related organizations that serve youth ages 12-18 to help staff recognize mental health issues and refer youth to appropriate resources for support.
The Community For Veterans (C4V) was formed locally in 2010 to provide support and transition resources for returning veterans. They currently manage a two-story transitional home in Menomonie open to three tenants at a time. It is a substance-free home and allows veterans to have an affordable place to stay, either short-term or long-term until they find something more permanent. They were awarded a $5,000 grant to help cover a portion of the cost for materials and contracted services needed to remodel the basement of the home, which will double the occupancy of veterans in need of housing from three tenants to six.
The Foundation’s next grant deadline will be February 1, 2017. All local charitable groups and organizations are welcome to apply. Grant guidelines and procedures are available on the Foundation’s website at www.cfdunncounty.org.
About The Community Foundation of Dunn County
For over 20 years, the Community Foundation of Dunn County has enhanced the lives of all its residents by connecting donors with causes they care about and providing funding for nonprofits. Each year the Foundation partners with donors and nonprofits to make a difference, now and for the future. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit www.cfdunncounty.org.
