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Latest Bright Ideas Grant Recipients Announced

BICEF Pie Chart 5The 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.