Press Release

Springdale, AR
May 24, 2005

Contact: Suzanne Ward - 479.361.4624
Chris Stecklein - 479.361.4624
Jan Huneycutt Lightner - 479.361.4624

Springdale, AR — The board of directors of CommunityCare Foundation (CF) announced 21 grants to local nonprofit organizations and schools. Many of the awards are second-year grants for continuing programs and services that started in 2004.

Grants under the Foundation's Immigration Initiatives:

• Hispanic Women's Organization was awarded $55,000 to continue the G.E.M. mentoring program,
• Ozark Literacy Council was awarded $50,000 for adult education and job training, and
• UA Medical Sciences (AHEC) received $50,000 to continue the medical interpreter training program.

Under the Foundation's Education Initiatives, five Springdale schools received funding to implement new arrival centers. New arrival centers are language immersion programs that assist children whose first language is not English.

The five grants were:

• $26,125 to Bayyari Elementary School,
• $26,250 to Tyson Middle School,
• $26,250 to Kelly Middle School,
• $11,250 to Lee Elementary School, and
• $11,250 to Westwood Elementary School.

One of the goals of CommunityCare Foundation's Extended Learning Initiative is to provide experiences that extend the school year, extend the school day, or expand the traditional curriculum. Schools that received grants to implement extended learning programs were:

• Bentonville Mary Mae Jones Elementary School - $53,000
• Siloam Springs Elementary School - $23,000
• Springdale Lee Elementary School - $28,000
• Springdale Westwood Elementary School - $53,000
• Springdale Smith, Walker, & Young Elementaries - $58,000

The Foundation's Early Childhood Education Initiative prepares pre-kindergarten children for their formal education. Funding was awarded to the following for their early childhood education or pre-K programs:

• Decatur Elementary School - $80,000
• Gravette Duffy Elementary School - $240,000
• Siloam Springs Elementary School - $80,000
• Springdale School District - $250,000

Besides the education grants, CommunityCare Foundation awarded two grants totaling $756,000 through their Health Initiatives. The recipient of both grants was Ozark Guidance. The grants were:

• $450,000 for School Based Mental Health services at Harp Elementary in Springdale, and Apple Glen Elementary in Bentonville, and
• $256,000 for School Based Social Services at elementary schools in
  • Bentonville
  • Decatur
  • Gravette
  • Siloam Springs, and
  • Springdale.

Three other awards were announced:

• Jones Center for Families received $500,000 for general operating expenses,
• Community Clinic at St.Francis House received $120,000 for medical and dental services, and
• Springdale Schools received $30,000 for a new program, High School Tenth Grade Center.

CommunityCare 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. For more information about the foundation and its strategic grantmaking initiatives, visit their website at www.ccfound.org.

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