Community Foundation gives $20,000 in grants to local organizations

The Bonita Springs Community Foundation, a division of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, recently distributed $20,000 in grants to seven local nonprofit organizations and schools.

The Community Foundation received a total of 26 applications totaling $119,287 for this year's annual grant cycle.

"We are pleased to be able to fund these critically important programs in such difficult economic times," said Arden McCurdy, chair of the grants committee of the Bonita Springs Community Foundation. "We would like to have given more, but we are limited by the level of donations we receive. We appreciate our generous supporters and hope that those who have the ability to give more will consider additional support in the future."

Grants went to the following programs:

ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) for an edible garden project at Bonita Springs Middle School

Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida to purchase an intra-oral x-ray machine in the new dental operatories at the Bonita Springs Dental office

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida for JA programs at Bonita Springs Elementary School

Literacy Council of Bonita Springs to expand the Moms and Tots program to include school-age children

Salvation Army for their Christmas Cheer program to provide toys, food and turkeys to needy families in the Bonita Springs area

Shoes That Fit to purchase shoes and clothes for children at four elementary schools is the Bonita Springs area

Spring Creek Elementary School for their Roaring Readers Program to teach reading strategies for parents to implement at home to improve their children's reading skills; and, for the Panther Pond Learning Center to provide interactive environmental science activities.

This year, the Community Foundation focused primarily on education and human services, wanting to make a greater impact in these areas of critical community need, particularly for children. The Community Foundation also looked to fund projects that involved community partnerships and collaboration. One of the most exciting new projects is a grant to ECHO to create an Edible Schoolyard Garden at Bonita Springs Middle School for students to grow their own food and market it to the school and community. ECHO will provide the leadership and training to the students, and there is collaboration with a local landscape architect, FGCU, and Good Wheels for transportation to the training at ECHO Global Farm. Working with ECHO staff and volunteers, middle school students will design and plant a garden at the school to provide healthy food for the students and a way for the students to generate income. This innovative educational program also correlates with the science, math, and geography curriculum at the middle school.

For more information on one of the above grants or how to get involved, contact the Community Foundation office at 274-5900.

The Bonita Springs Community Foundation, a division of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation was established in 1997 to promote philanthropy and build a spirit of community to enhance the quality of life for all citizens in the greater Bonita Springs area, now and for generations to come, through stewardship of permanently endowed funds.

For more information, contact the Bonita Springs Community Foundation at 274-5900 or go online to www.bonitacommfoundation. com.

The Southwest Florida Community Foundation has been supporting the communities of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties through endowed funds for nearly 32 years, and during that time has provided more than $30 million in grants and scholarships. For more information, call 274- 5900, or visit www.floridacommunity.com.