Press Release

Springdale, AR
July 21, 2000

Contact: Suzanne Ward - 501.927.0970
Emerson Goodwin - 501.927.0970

Springdale, AR - The board of directors of CommunityCare Foundation, Inc. announced its second round of grants today. A total of $1,712,951 was awarded to 44 agencies serving Washington and Benton counties. In the first grant cycle, distributed in April, the Foundation made 26 grants totaling $1,457,130. The total contributions to date in 2000 are $3,170,081, with 70 organizations receiving funds.

Grants range in size from $6,348 to $125,365 with a median award size of $30,000. CommunityCare Foundation continues strong support for human services and education; among the grants awarded are 6 crisis and support organizations, 3 area literacy councils, and 5 Bentonville School District initiatives. The smallest grant was $6,348 to Will Hall, Inc. of Fayetteville to publish and distribute a bilingual book (Spanish and English) for children who are new to Arkansas. The largest grant in this cycle ($125,635) was contributed to the Bentonville Public Schools to hire five registered nurses to provide health services and education in the schools.

Grant awards were made to organizations in all five of the areas of interest to the Foundation: health, human services, education, arts and culture, and public/society benefit. The following chart shows the percent of funds allocated in each area:

A list of all grants, in alphabetical order, follows:

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Fort Smith, $25,000.00. To provide $20,000 for respite care stipends for patients in northwest Arkansas, and $5,000 for general operating support of the Bella Vista office.

Arkansas Support Network, Bentonville, $26,000.00. Direct cash stipends to families needing assistance with costs associated with providing for a child with disabilities living at home.

Arthritis Foundation, AR Chapter, Little Rock, $10,000.00. To support the Arthritis Foundation's northwest Arkansas outreach efforts by providing funds to purchase two personal computers/video projectors.

Arts Live Theatre, Fayetteville, $10,128.00. To produce the play "Bang, Bang, You're Dead" with performances in six schools from Benton, Madison and Washington Counties.

Avoca Fire Department, Avoca, $16,850.00. To purchase equipment for a fast-response fire/rescue boat and build a secure dock for the boat.

Beaver Lake Literacy Council, Bentonville, $20,000.00. To build the capacity of the council to serve a greater number of residents needing help improving their reading comprehension.

Bentonville Public Library, Bentonville, $73,425.00. To purchase Library Solution Integrated software, and other hardware and software, to institute a comprehensive library management system.

Bentonville Public Schools, Parents Plus/Family Resource Center, Bentonville, $30,000.00. To purchase furniture and supplies for the Parent Centers at Apple Glen, Sugar Creek and Thomas Jefferson elementary schools.

Bentonville Public Schools Technology Center, Bentonville, $44,232.00. To purchase and install infrared sensors in all ten schools and provide hand-held computers to all principals and assistant principals.

Bentonville Public Schools Special Education Department, Bentonville, $21,759.00. To purchase reading software and equipment.

Bentonville Public Schools Library Media Centers, Bentonville, $30,000.00. To purchase library materials for the two middle schools and the two junior high schools.

Bentonville Public Schools Health Services, Bentonville, $125,365.00. To hire five registered nurses, including benefits, and purchase necessary medical equipment to support each position.

Bentonville/Bella Vista Trailblazers Association, Inc., Bella Vista, $55,000.00. To assist in the cost of construction of a two mile hiking and biking path around Lake Bella Vista.

Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas, Springdale, $24,000.00. To assist Big Brothers/Big Sisters in launching their "Bigs in Schools" program providing a caring adult in the lives of children during the school day.

Boys/Girls Club of Bentonville / Bella Vista, Bentonville, $26,500.00. To purchase a 12-passenger van to support Boys/Girls Club of Bentonville/Bella Vista's Exploring Northwest Arkansas program.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks-AR, Springdale, $75,000.00. Matching grant to support community fundraising for a new bloodmobile. CommunityCare Foundation's goal is to assist the Community Blood Center in expanding its public support for this important project. Community Blood Center must raise an additional $80,308 to match the funds from CommunityCare Foundation.

Community Development Corp of Bentonville/Bella Vista, Havenwood, Bentonville, $15,000.00. Supports group and individual counseling; facility maintenance for 15 apartments, the building of a deck and a special activity program.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (C.A.S.A.), Springdale, $40,000.00. To provide for the organization's general operating expenses.

Economic Opportunity Agency - Children's House, Fayetteville, $35,000.00. To provide for the organization's general operating expenses.

Habitat for Humanity of Benton County, Bentonville, $35,000.00. To assist in the cost of building the office/warehouse complex and $10,000 for general operating support.

Habitat for Humanity-Springdale, Springdale, $20,000.00. To assist with the organization's general operating support.

National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), Springdale, $35,700.00. To support the expansion of the organization's programs to promote understanding and respect among all religions, races and cultures.

Northwest Arkansas Child Care Resource & Referral Center, Springdale, $35,000.00. To assist the organization in expanding its programs and to provide a $5,000 incentive for childcare agencies to pursue accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Northwest Arkansas Crisis Intervention Center, Springdale, $25,000.00. To support the launch of the Touching Home Program of daily checking on homebound individuals.

Office of Human Concern - Multicultural Center of Northwest Arkansas, Rogers, $35,000.00. To assist the organization in meeting its operating costs.

Office of Human Concern - Sick Child Program, Rogers, $25,000.00. To assist the organization in meeting its operating costs.

Ozark Food Bank, Bethel Heights, $20,000.00. To assist the organization in purchasing a cooler for storing fresh produce and to provide an allowance to purchase food.

Ozark Guidance Center, Springdale, $48,635.00. To support the start-up costs of the Assertive Community Treatment program.

Ozark Literacy Council, Fayetteville, $30,000.00. To support the costs associated with the organization's small group literacy initiative.

Ozark Natural Science Center, Huntsville, $52,525.00. To provide tuition assistance allowing a greater number of school children to have access to the organization's program and services.

Project for Victims of Family Violence, Inc., Fayetteville, $90,500.00. To provide $30,000 to assist the Project for Victims of Family Violence in meeting its operations costs. In addition, we are providing a challenge grant of $60,500 to be matched by local fundraising to support the building of the new emergency shelter.

RAIN Arkansas, Inc. (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network), Springdale, $28,030.00. To provide $6,350 to support the organization's HIV/AIDS educational programs; $7,000 to provide emergency assistance to people with AIDS and $14,680 for general operating support.

Restoration Ministries, Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County, Rogers, $50,000.00. $25,000 for the purchase of a colposcope and $25,000 for general operating support.

Salvation Army-Springdale, Springdale, $49,100.00. Renovation of kitchen and purchase of cooking equipment to begin a mass feeding program.

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County, Bentonville, $70,000.00. $20,000 for general operating expenses and $50,000 for scholarship support.

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Washington County, Springdale, $70,000.00. $46,850 for general operating support and $23,150 for scholarship support.

Spavinaw Literacy Council, Gravette, $15,000.00. To assist the organization in refurbishing a new literacy learning center.

Springdale Police Department, Springdale, $77,203.00. To provide funds to purchase Mobile Data computer system equipment for 15 of the agency's patrol cars.

Starpoint, Inc., Bentonville, $25,000.00. $5,000 to fund GED and computer training classes; $10,000 to support the retail training program; and $10,000 for general operating costs.

University of Arkansas Research & Sponsored Programs, School-Based Neurofeedback Intervention Project, Fayetteville, $48,451.00. To provide Electroencephalograph Biofeedback training to students with ADD/ADHD at Elmdale Elementary School in Springdale.

University of Arkansas for Medical Science Ð Area Health Education Center, Springdale, $72,775.00. To fund the start-up costs of a maternal infant patient education and home visitation program.

Washington County Search & Rescue / Dive Team, Fayetteville, $25,425.00. To purchase communication equipment and an emergency response vehicle to be used as a mobile command and first aid station.

Washington County Library System, Fayetteville, $20,000.00. To provide funds for the purchase of database subscriptions.

Will Hall, Inc., Fayetteville, $6,348.00. To support the costs for publishing and distribution of children's books in English and Spanish.

The next deadline for grant applications to CommunityCare Foundation, Inc. is September 30, 2000. The Foundation expects to make grants totaling approximately $5 million in 2000.

CommunityCare Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1998 with funds from the sale of Northwest Medical Center in Springdale and Bates Medical Center in Bentonville. The Foundation operates as a supporting organization to the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation and its mission is to enrich the quality of life in this area.

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