The Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation is proud to announce the names of their newest Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund partners as ten grants were recently awarded to local non-profit organizations totaling over $132,000. The Bright Ideas program is the responsive grant program for the Legacy Foundation and the grant decision recommendations are made by a volunteer committee comprised of community citizens as well as a student from Ottumwa High School. “I greatly respect the substantial deliberation process our grant committee goes through each cycle,” says Kelly Genners, director of community leadership & grant-making for the Legacy Foundation. “They take their role as a voice for the community very seriously.”
The following lists the organizations and their funded project amounts:
Best Buddies International – Funding for implementation of Best Buddies Chapter at Evans Middle School: $7,500
Cardinal Community Schools – Funding for implementation of Cardinal Summer School to be held in June and July of 2015: $30,000
Crisis Center & Women’s Shelter – Grant to be used to provide safe housing units for victims of domestic violence: $24,000
Greater Ottumwa Vocal Arts Project – Grant to be used to assist in the purchase of a portable lighting system: $11,000
Iowa Justice For Our Neighbors – Funding to hold monthly legal clinics to assist low-income immigrants with their legal immigration cases: $7,000
Ottumwa High School Music Boosters – Grant to be used to fund three sousaphones for the Ottumwa High School Marching Band: $12,285
STARR Workforce – Grant to be used for installation of handicapped accessible doors and various improvements for Blessings Soup Kitchen: $9,000
Victory Ranch – Funding for “Seed to Seat” program which educates youth on food choices, nutrition and healthy eating: $6,000
Wapello County Historical Society – Grant to be used to support the implementation of LED lighting in the lower level of the Wapello county Historical Museum: $7,500
The next cycle for Bright Ideas will be open to accept online applications from June 1st – June 30th with award decisions announced mid-August. Eligible applicants must be a 501(c)3 organization providing services within Wapello County. Since its inception in September of 2011, the Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund has awarded 135 grants totaling over $1.6 million dollars. These grants have assisted 66 different non-profit organizations in Wapello County. For more information about the program contact Kelly Genners at kgenners@orlf.org.
