Education Emphasized In $3.2M Grant Awards

CommunityCare Foundation Inc. on June 15 announced plans to distribute $3.2 million to four local schools and several other organizations, with the majority of the funds going to education-oriented programs.

The recent grants include:

• $2 million for the All Children Excel in School program at four schools — Decatur School District, Gravette School District, and Lee Elementary and Westwood Elementary in Springdale. The schools get the bulk of that, but Ozark Guidance Center will get $129,786 to provide mental health services through community caseworkers in the four ACES schools. And, the University of Arkansas Office of Research, Measurement and Evaluation will get $82,667 to evaluate the ACES project.

• $311,115 in funding for Ozark Guidance Center. The money will provide a model for comprehensive mental health services in Apple Glen Elementary School in Bentonville and Harp Elementary School in Springdale.

• $202,580 in funding for CommunityCare’s immigration initiative, with $50,000 to the Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas, $59,080 to NorthWest Arkansas Community College, $43,500 to the Ozark Literacy Council, and $50,000 to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Area Health Education Center.

• $73,575 to support nonprofit agencies.

• $100,000 to the Community Clinic at St. Francis House for operating support.

• $500,000 in operating support for the Jones Center for Families.

The CommunityCare Foundation was formed in 1998 with $140 million from the sale of Northwest Health System. It provides funding to local nonprofit agencies and community programs.