Community Foundation announces over $60,000 in grant funding         

[NOV. 10, 2005]  PEORIA -- The Community Foundation of Central Illinois recently awarded the following grants to nonprofit organizations located within a 50-mile radius of Peoria:

• The American Cancer Society received funding for their baby-sitting class scholarship program from the Cilcorp Education Fund, the Caterpillar Community Leadership Fund and the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund.

• The American Red Cross received funding for their Save a Life Saturday program from the Fontaine Earle Fund.

• Big Brothers/Big Sisters received funding for their Bigs In Schools project from the Caterpillar Community Leadership Fund.

• Catholic Diocese of Peoria, South Side Mission Childcare, received funding from the Caterpillar Community Leadership Fund for their child-care collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education for pre-kindergarten at-risk services.

• Celebration Senior Services received funding for their Wednesday lunch program from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois Unrestricted Fund.

• The Tazewell County Children's Center received funding for their security system project from the Louis and Selma Neumiller Fund, the Dr. Paul Dirkse Endowment Fund, Peter Donis Charitable Fund, and the Scott Heimdal Fund.

• The Children's Home Association received funding for their Car Seats for Kids program from the Thomas and Ellen Foster Fund.

• Common Place Inc. received funding for their adult learner special needs program from the Yeomans Fund.

• Corn Stock Theatre received funding for their assisted listening device program from the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund.

• Crittenton Centers received funding for their Nurturing Parenting project from the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund.

• East Peoria Community High School received funding for CPR training in the school from the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund.

• Elmwood Community Foundation received funding for their hiking-biking trail project from the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund.

• The Friendship House, Christian Service, received funding for their Let's Communicate -- Vayaa Comunicarse program from the Sandra and Richard Ullman Unrestricted Charitable Fund.

• The Heartland Community Health Clinic received funding for their Morris Bittner Prescription Fund program from the Thomas and Ellen Foster Fund, the Caterpillar Community Leadership Fund, and the Fontaine Earle Fund.

• Hollis Grade School received funding from the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund for their program called The Revealers.

• Junior League of Peoria Inc. received funding for their I Like Me literacy program from the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund and the Scott Heimdal Fund.

• The Marshall-Putnam County Cooperative Extension received funding from the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund for their Life on the Prairie elementary school presentations project.

• The OSF Healthcare Foundation-Children's Miracle Network received funding from the Mental Health Remembrance Leadership Fund and the Thomas and Ellen Foster Fund for their project called Childhood Depression: A Community Collaborative Approach.

• Peoria Area Labor Management received funding for their Coronary Health Improvement Project from the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund and the Cilcorp Education Fund.

• The PARC rehab facility received funding for their Music, Movement & Dance project from the Taylor & Corinne French Fund for Fine Arts Education, the Peoria Sertoma Foundation Fund, and the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund.

• Peoria High School received funding from the RLI Insurance Company Corporate Contributions Fund for their life skills program for special needs students.

• The Peoria Humane Society received funding for their Arts & Animals project from the Eugene & Harriett Swager Fund for Public Art.

• Peoria Public Library received funding for their Rock Island Trail Storytelling Festival from the Literacy Fund, the Cilcorp Education Fund, the Paul Jackson Fund, the George A. Fulton Charitable Fund, and the Eugene & Harriett Swager Fund for Public Art.

• Peoria Public Library received funding from Literacy Fund for their program called A Chat with Benjamin Franklin.

• Spoon River College Foundation received funding from the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund, the PACF/PCC Performing Arts Fund, the Thomas & Lynn Landes Fund for Performing Arts, the Alvin & Donna Haerr Family Performing Arts Fund, and the George A. Fulton Charitable Fund for their classical performing arts project, Handel's “Messiah.”

• The Tazewell County Health Department received funding for their Family Safety Night program from the John H. "Ted" and Betty Flora Charitable Fund, the Community Foundation of Central Illinois Unrestricted Fund, the William L. and Mary E. Kella Fund, and the Fontaine Earle Fund.

• The Tazewell County House of Hope received funding for their Em-Power UP program from the Caterpillar Community Leadership Fund.

• The Tazwood Mental Health Center Inc. received funding for a mental health counselor at Pekin High School from the Mental Health Remembrance Leadership Fund and the Caterpillar Community Leadership Fund.

• The University of Illinois College of Medicine received funding for their 2006 Women's Empowerment Retreat program from the Paul Jackson Fund.

• Westminster Presbyterian Church received funding from the Yeomans Fund for their transportation service project at Westminster Infant Care Center.

• YWCA of Pekin received funding for their Rankin Child Care Playground from the Marion and Warren Bohner Fund and the Louise Flora Howard Memorial Fund.

In total, grant awards this funding cycle exceeded $60,000.

The Community Foundation is currently accepting new grant applications for the Jan. 15, 2006, deadline. Nonprofit organizations within a 50-mile radius of Peoria are eligible to apply.

For more information on the Community Foundation of Central Illinois or to learn how you can apply for a grant, visit www.communityfoundationci.org or send an e-mail to [e-mail].

[Community Foundation of Central Illinois news release]

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