Foundation awards grants

Local organizations and teachers will receive nearly $380,000 in assistance for various projects.

The Portland Foundation announced $377,318 in grants for its spring cycle this week and $2,354 in Teacher Creativity Mini Grants.

“As always, The Portland Foundation is very pleased to be able to award these grants,” said Doug Inman, executive director of The Portland Foundation, in a press release. “The generosity of Jay County citizens over the last 74 years allows the Foundation to carry out its mission — to enhance the quality of life for the people in Jay County.”

Bryant Area Community Center received about a quarter of the overall funding — $96,000 — for a new roof. 

The only other grant of more than $25,000 went to John Jay Center for Learning at $31,800 for its SkillsTrac Industrial Maintenance training program for Jay County High School seniors. John Jay was also awarded $7,000 for its summer robotics and STEM camps, $6,000 for its senior learning series and $5,000 for its speaker series.

The Portland Foundation awarded $25,000 grants to Arts Place for its MusicWorks program, Jay County FFA Alumni on a $1 for $1 matching basis for the construction of a new pavilion and Jay Community Center for its Boomer sports programs. The community center was also awarded $22,435 for its summer day camp.

Receiving $20,000 each were A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope for addiction treatment and its Hope Fest event and Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition for its peer addiction support team.

Jay County Fair Association was awarded $17,260 for the electrical portion of its infield renovation project. Portland Morning Optimist Club received $14,266 for an ice maker.

Receiving $10,000 each were the Jay County 4th of July Committee for its annual activities and Youth Service Bureau of Jay County for its Keeping At Risk Students in School (KARS) program. West Jay Community Center was awarded $8,500 for its summer day camp.

Awarded $5,000 each were Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department for Fourth of July fireworks, Jay County Historical Society for its Heritage Festival, Kate’s Kart for the purchase of new books and Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana for the Asbury Senior Safety Net site.

Other grants were: $4,100 to Dunkirk Beautification Committee for the Webster Depot Park Summer Concert Series; $3,920 to Jay County Cancer Society for its Dueling Pianos show; $3,037 to Jay Patriot Band Boosters on a $1 to $1 matching basis for new band equipment; and $3,000 to Jay County Public Library for its Kindergarten Prep School (KIPS) program.

Receiving Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants, which cover the costs ($300 or less) of learning experiences that teachers feel are important to their students but are outside the budget of their school, are as follows:

•$300 each for Natalie Corcoran and Andrea Oswalt (Redkey Elementary School) for a “Glow Day” activity; Erin Homan (Jay School Corporation Preschool) for items for activities and events; Beth Mathewson (East Jay Elementary School) for the “Basic Writing Series”; Lindsey Peterson (East Elementary School) for an American Sign Language club; and Carly Sanderson (Zion Early Learning Center) for a computer.

•$279 for Laurie Chrisman (Jay County Junior-Senior High School) for a subscription to EduProtocols Plus.

•$275 for Sarah Davidson (East) for a communication board.

The next grant application deadline is Thursday, June 26.