$150,000 awarded in Macon County CommunityWorks Grants
The Community Foundation of Macon County (CFMC) is awarding more than $150,000 in Communityworks grants to nine area organizations, benefitting nearly 15 community programs.
“The overall purpose of Communityworks is to provide a coordinated, systems-based approach toward the achievement of community aspirations,” says CFMC Foundation President Natalie Beck. “This endowed fund provides grants to area organizations and institutions whose efforts further the vision of a sustainable community in select priority areas of workforce development, education, and environmental sustainability.”
The 2020 Communityworks grant recipients are:
Workforce Development and Education:
- Boys & Girls Club of Decatur, $2,500 for virtual learning support
- Children’s Museum of Illinois, $2,500 for virtual learning support
- Baby TALK, $5,000 for adult education – family literacy program
- Salvation Army, $5,000 for Pathway of Hope
- Decatur-Macon County Opportunities Corporation (DMCOC), $10,000 for CDL certification program
- Richland Community College (RCC), $10,000 for the EnRich program and $10,000 for Project Read Plus
- Workforce Investment Solutions, $98,500 for LPN scholarships, RN scholarships, accelerated welding at RCC, essential skills at Oasis Day Center and seven youth work experiences
- Beautify Decatur Coalition, $2,000 for operating support
- Macon County Conservation District Foundation, $6,500 for operating support
Environment:
“These recipient organizations are providing extremely valuable services to the community, and we’re proud to be a partner in helping them expand their efforts to improve the quality of life in Macon County,” Beck adds. “Our board of trustees also placed significant emphasis on workforce development this year in response to the effects of COVID-19, noting that to emerge strong from the pandemic, companies should start reskilling their workforces now. This year’s funding helps our community meet this challenge by investing in employees’ social and emotional skills, their digital and cognitive capabilities, and their adaptability and resilience.”
In 2005, The Community Foundation of Macon County was one of 18 initial foundations chosen to receive a Communityworks grant from the Grand Victoria Foundation. Through the years, CFMC has received donor contributions to meet the challenge funding matches required by the Grand Victoria Foundation, increasing CFMC’s Communityworks endowment fund to over $6 million.
The next round of applications for competitive and strategic Communityworks grant funding opens in April 2021.
Established in 2000, The Community Foundation of Macon County stewards more than 300 funds and $42 million in total assets. To date, The Community Foundation has distributed over $30 million to charitable organizations and endeavors. For more information about The Community Foundation of Macon County, visit Maconcountygives.org.
