CommunityCare Pours $2.4M into NW Arkansas

In addition to the more than $1.6 million that CommunityCare Foundation Inc. awarded on May 31 to 24 local agencies (see chart), the nonprofit organization invested another $821,538 into existing special projects. This was CommunityCare’s first round of funding for 2002, during which it expects to give away about $5.8 million.

The $2.45 million start for 2002 gives the organization a three-year total of more than $12 million in local distributions.

The special projects money was divided by All Children Excel in School, which began in Springdale’s Lee and Westwood elementary schools, and the Nonprofit Learning Series. Both were started during fall 2001.

ACES, which focuses on improving math and literacy performance, will be expanded to Gravette and Decatur elementary schools. NLS provides management training for local nonprofits and has seen 50 agencies participate in classes during the last eight months. During 2002, another 50 are expected to receive training.

CommunityCare is a product of the November 1998 sale of Northwest Health Systems Inc. of Springdale to Quorum Health Group Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., which in turn sold to Triad Health Partners Inc. of Dallas in October of 2000.

Established to benefit the local area, CommunityCare boasts a $140 million portfolio which is invested by several managers including Northwest Bank of Minneapolis.

July 31 is the deadline for applications for 2002’s second round of funding.

Grant giveaway

The following are CommunityCare Foundation Inc.’s first round of grants for 2002:ttt

Recipient — City — Amount — Purpose

Jones Center for Families — Springdale — $500,000 — General operating support for one year.

Community Clinic/St. Francis House — Springdale — $150,000 — Provide medical and dental services for working poor.

Walton Arts Center — Fayetteville — $147,428 — Support education programs in local schools.

Arts Center of the Ozarks — Springdalet$95,000 — General operating support for one year.

Alzheimer’s Association Inc. — Bella Vista — $81,958 — Expand respite care for Alzheimer’s patients, needs assessment.

Northwest Arkansas Community College — Rogers — $55,400 — Establish Workforce Development Institute’s Building the Future financial literacy program for Hispanic adults.

EOA Children’s House — Fayetteville — $50,000 — General operating support for one year.

Northwest Arkansas Rape Crisis Inc. — Springdale — $50,000 — Implement PEERS program designed to educate high school seniors about sexual assault issues.

OHC Multicultural Center of Northwest Arkansas — Springdale — $50,000 — General operating support for one year.

Springdale Police Department — Springdale — $48,704 — Expansion of juvenile investigation division.

Fayetteville School District, West Campus Childcare Center — Fayettevillet$48,150 — Fund scholarships and general operating costs of teen parent program.

Legal Aid of Arkansas, Domestic Violence Attorney Project — Fayetteville — $39,040 — Hire lawyers to represent victims of domestic violence.

Bread of Life Ministry — Springdale — $37,912 — Implement a client-services tracking system.

Gravette High School — Gravette — $36,000 — Purchase computers for remediation program.

Bentonville Skate Park — Bentonville — $35,494 — Complete Phase III of park.

Salvation Army — Fayetteville — $34,752 — Provide renovations and furniture for dorms in Transitional Living Shelter.

University of Arkansas PUSH program — Fayetteville — $32,111 — Initiate pilot senior health exercise program.

Community Dev. Corp. of Bentonville/Bella Vista, Havenwood — Bentonville — $30,460 — Fund art therapy programs.

Junior Achievement of Arkansas Inc. — Springdale — $25,000 — Purchase program materials for local classroom volunteers.

North Arkansas Symphony Society — Fayetteville — $25,000 — Support local child and youth music programs.

Northwest Arkansas Academic Competition Association — Rogers — $19,025 — General operating support for one year.

Springdale High School — Springdale — $14,113 — Purchase communications equipment for school personnel.

Benton County Women’s Shelter — Bentonville — $14,000 — Fund art therapy programs for shelter residents.

American Lung Association of Arkansas — Little Rock — $11,153 — Expand Open Airways for Schools and Asthma In-Service programs n Benton and Washington counties, evaluation of programs.

Totalt— $1,630,700t

Source: Community Care Foundation Inc.