The Hutchinson Community Foundation announced the 2012 Fund for Hutchinson grant awards on Thursday at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. First awarded in 1990, more than $2.3 million has been awarded to 169 area organizations and agencies from this Fund. This year, 25 organizations providing a myriad of services and programs in Reno County are collectively receiving $144,955.

Grant recipient organizations are –

ARTS & CULTURE –

Reno County Historical Society – Restoration of the courtyard fountain and sprinkler system – $3,850

HCC Fine Arts Department – Support for guest artists appearing in Nathan Jackson’s play “When I Come to Die” and public forums to discuss race relations – $4,600

CAPACITY BUILDING/EQUIPMENT –

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center – Security equipment in the Center’s Children’s Visitation and Exchange Center – $3,500

Meals on Wheels – Operational support for program to serve additional low income persons – $2,000

Visions of Hope – Support for Court Appointed Special Advocates program – $2,000

Prairie Independent Living Resource – Replacement computer server to maintain client and organizational records – $3,500

Reno County Area Transportation – Construction of a bus shelter on an RCAT designated route – $4,575

Arlington Community Center – Construction of a picnic shelter near the Arlington Community Center – $4,625

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION –

Kansas Children’s Service League – Healthy Families Reno County – Support for home visitation program for overburdened parents and their very young children – $12,000

Kansas Public Television – Grant to leverage donations supporting children’s educational programming – $2,500

Hutchinson Community College Child Care Center – Water/sand area in the Center’s playscape, an outdoor play and education area – $5,000

FAMILY ECONOMIC SUCCESS –

Interfaith Housing Services – Enable the Executive Director to attend the Harvard Achieving Excellence program to gain knowledge of housing and community development – $4,300

City of Hutchinson Housing Commission – Second year of a three-year grant to support a marketing and communications plan for the Community Housing Trust – $3,750

Reno County Drug Court – Intensive services to high-risk clients – $11,345

Trinity United Methodist Church – Circles of Hope Reno County program, a community initiative to help stabilize families with limited resources – $11,400

The Volunteer Center – Computer equipment to assure accurate and secure income tax returns for residents using the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program – $1,070

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT –

Horizons Mental Health Center – Support for the Personal Safety Awareness Program taught to Reno County children – $2,000

Boys & Girls Club – Support for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum for Club members – $10,000

Communities That Care of Reno County – Youth leaders will host a summit in January 2013 for Reno County middle school youth to encourage a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle – $3,000

Hutchinson High School – Implementation of the International Baccalaureate Career-related Certification Programme, a component of the existing IB Diploma Programme – $10,000

USD 310 Fairfield – Support for high school mentors working in the Afterschool Academy – $5,000

Rice Park Neighborhood – Support for a Splash Pad Water Park in Rice Park – $15,000

NUTRITION & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY –

Reno County Health Department – Facilitation to create a Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan – $1,540

Reno County Vitality Team – Local cyclists will be trained and certified by the League of American Bicyclists to provide safe cycling instruction in Reno County schools and for the community at large – $3,400

Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce – Funds will support the connection of the northeast walking and biking trail to the Dillons Marketplace property – $15,000

Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to connect donors to community needs, increase philanthropy and provide leadership on key community issues. Since 1989 the foundation has granted more than $60 million. The Community Foundation meets National Standards for operational quality, donor service and accountability in the community foundation sector.