EWVCF Program Manager Karin Hammann Dunn has been busy delivering grant checks and attending New Teacher Lunches and Breakfasts around the Eastern Panhandle. Several nonprofit organizations have recently submitted Final Grant Reports for 2017 Youth and Education Grants and we decided to have Karin deliver the grant checks rather than drop them in the mail. Turns out this is a great way for the Community Foundation to learn more about the many organizations that are providing vital services in our region. Last week, Karin delivered a $4,000 check to the Junior Mentoring Program (JUMP) Executive Director Ashley Kilmer and Board President Ed Wilson.
On the same day Karin helped stuff backpacks and presented a $3,000 check to Berkeley County Backpack Program Executive Director Lisa Henry . “You’d be amazed at how grateful these organizations are for the support,” stated Karin. “Even small grants can make a remarkable difference to grassroots charities like these.”
The Community Foundation is currently reworking several competitive grant programs and moving the application deadline up to December 8th of this year for our 2018 Eastern Panhandle Youth Grants, Frada Fine Berkeley Education Grants, Jefferson County Historic Cemetery Grants, Eastern Panhandle CARE Fund Grants, and Housing in Action Grants. More than $120,000 in grants will be awarded from these grant programs in mid-February. By moving everything up we can get our grants awarded before the big scholarship push and the earlier dates provide our grantees a longer period of time to complete their grant funded programs.