CUSTER COUNTY–The Custer County Foundation reviewed grant requests for the period ending April 30, 2020 and is awarding a total of $40,900 to 14 Custer County organizations.
“We have two grant cycles a year and the money we raise at the gala is how we fund our grants program. And so these were due the end of April and we have a group of board members who reviewed the applications and then we present them to the full board and they either accept or decline the recommendations from the grant committee. We had a great group of applications this go around and we were able to award 14 Custer County organizations grants in the total amount of $40,900,” said Lindsay Divan, Executive Director of the Foundation.
“It’s always an exciting time when we get to announce our grant recipients,” Divan added. “The generous support we receive from our donors through our annual Gala & Auction in December enables the Foundation to continue to have a county wide impact through the grants we are able to award.”
The Foundation Grants committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved, the following awards:
Anselmo-Merna Public Schools – $4,500: Supplies to help revitalize the Agricultural Education Department.
Ansley Alumni Class of 2004 – $1,500: To help with equipment for a sand volleyball court.
Ansley Public Schools – $6,000: To provide playground equipment.
Ansley Rural Fire Department – $3,600: To help purchase protective fire gear.
Central Plains Center for Services – $600: To help establish a Reach out to Read Literacy program.
Custer County Children’s Theater Association – $1,500: To help with the Children’s Theater Production.
Sargent Imagination Library – $1,500: To help establish the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Sargent.
Lead4Change – $2,200: To help install a flagpole in front of the Broken Bow Middle School.
Merna Emergency Medical Services – $5,000: To help purchase a power cot for the ambulance.
Nigel Sprouse Memorial Library – $2,000: To replace the hot water heater and the back door.
Oconto Rural Fire Department – $7,500: To help purchase an ambulance cot and lift system.
Sandhills Community Collaborative – $1,500: To help create a resource app.
Tuffy Winberg Free Pit BBQ – $2,500: To help provide the Free Pit BBQ.
Callaway YLCC – $1,000: To help with a new sound system in the Callaway Community Center.
The next grant application period ends October 31, 2020. Applications may be accessed online at www.custercountyfoundation.org.
In addition to the fall and spring grant cycles, the Custer County Foundation has recently announced the addition of a COVID-19 Response Grant. (Click here to view the June 1 story.) The goal of the COVID-19 Response Grant is to provide nonprofit organizations with flexible resources to address the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis in our community, particularly to address immediate basic needs, such as food insecurity or eviction prevention.
Because of the urgent nature of this grant program, applications for COVID-19 relief will be accepted at any time during the pandemic, as funds are available. Click here to view the application.
The mission of the Custer County Foundation is to seek out, receive, and administer funds to meet the present and future needs of the residents of Custer County. Donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible. Call the Foundation at 308-872-2232 for more information.
