Hudson-Ellis Funds, an affiliate of Blue Grass Community Foundation, awarded more than $76,000 in grants to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, schools and exempt governmental units or their subdivisions serving Boyle County. A ceremony was held Wednesday at the Community Arts Center in Danville. A complete list of the awards is listed below.
The Hudson-Ellis Discretionary and Scholarship Funds were established in 2000 through a bequest from Lottie Ellis, and the John F. and Lena H. Joyner Fund was established in 2004 through a bequest from Mr. and Mrs. Joyner.
Nonprofit agencies in Boyle County were invited to apply for funds for projects that would improve the quality of life for Boyle County residents. A volunteer committee of Boyle County residents reviewed the grant applications.
Rami Little and the other members of the Hudson-Ellis Advisory Board presented the awards. Little also acknowledged three students who each had received a $6,000 college scholarship, renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study, from the Hudson-Ellis Scholarship Fund. They are:
- Bianca Dubree of Kentucky School for the Deaf;
- Katherine Lester of Boyle County High School;
- Mariah Rose of Danville High School.
“The lasting effect of these endowments has created continuous improvement to the quality of life in our region, of which Lottie Ellis would surely be proud,” said Kassie Branham, director of grants and scholarships of Blue Grass Community Foundation, during her opening remarks.
Blue Grass Community Foundation was founded in 1967. It serves as philanthropic partner to individuals, families, nonprofit agencies and businesses, helping them to invest in the causes they care about. One of nearly 700 community foundations nationwide, BGCF holds assets of approximately $54.2 million in 310 charitable funds serving central and southeastern Kentucky.
All funds at Blue Grass Community Foundation are open for contributions at any time. Also, those who wish to support the causes of their choice may establish new charitable funds.
To learn more about giving through the community foundation, call Allison Lankford at (859) 225-3343 or visit the website at www.bgcf.org.
Boyle County grant recipients are:
- Arts Commission of Danville-Boyle County, $4,000 for operating expenses to enable the continuation of current projects.
- Boyle County Schools, $10,000 for implementation of a coordinated school health program to help reduce physical, mental and social barriers for children.
- CASA at Woodlawn, $10,000 for funding to recruit, train and retain 10 volunteers to comply with Kentucky law and national CASA standards.
- Central Kentucky Radio Eye, $875 to provide radio reading services to the blind and disabled in Boyle County.
- Community Arts Center Inc., $10,000 for the Arts Cart program.
- Danville Schools, $9,060 for the Danville Preschool Family Involvement Project to expand current family involvement activities by offering a series of informative parenting ses- sions.
- Family Services Association of Boyle County, $4,000 to purchase child safety seats and household supplies.
- Kentucky School for the Deaf, $7,906 for the purchase of reading materials and digital devices, and 10 iPod Touch devises for the career technology department.
- Living Arts and Science Center, $5,637 to support LASC programs for Boyle County and Danville students.
- Special Persons Advocacy Network Inc., $5,000 for SPAN camp funding for transportation, trips, games and crafts, location, salaries and snacks.
- The Presbyterian Church of Danville, $10,000 for the “Soups On Us” hunger project to deliver food to people in Danville and Junction City.
