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March 15, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Bonnie Prigge, Luci Flaim 573-265-2993
MRCF announces 2012 grant recipients ST. JAMES – March 7, 2012, was a historic day for the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) as it selected the first recipients of its first grant allocation. The grant review session followed the group’s monthly meeting at Meramec Regional Planning Commission. Six projects in five counties will share $1,400 in grant funds aimed to enhance and build stronger communities within the Meramec Region. Some 26 applications were received. Grant recipients include:
Check presentations to the recipients will occur in the near future. Other business handled during the meeting included Board President Laura Antolak and MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge signing new fund documents for the Owensville Area Community Foundation’s endowment fund, an agreement document for the separate entities of the MRPC and MRCF capacity-building funds and the Jean Henry Memorial Fund for scholarships. Antolak noted MRCF has a current total of 16 funds, worth approximately $650,000. The board approved four members to serve on the Richard and Jeanne Cavender Scholarship for Public Service fund committee, which plans to award two $500 scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year to high school seniors in the Meramec Region. The committee also includes one member from the Cavender family. Scholarship applications are available on MRPC’s website at www.meramecregion.org and from the high school counselors’ offices. Applications are due to Luci Flaim at MRPC at 4 Industrial Drive, St. James, MO 65559 with a post-marked date by April 1, 2012. Flaim, MRPC’s community development specialist, invited board members to attend the 2012 Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ annual affiliate conference Leading for Community Impact on March 29 in Springfield, Mo. The board agreed to hold an annual meeting for MRCF in July and invite its affiliates and those who have funds established. Board members discussed scheduling meetings throughout the Meramec Region to continue educating groups and individuals on the foundation and its activities. Members also reported on their individual presentations throughout the region’s communities. The next meeting for MRCF will be at 9:30 a.m. April 4 at MRPC at 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Springfield. MRCF was established in May 2010 and serves Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties outside of existing CFO affiliate areas. For more information on MRCF, contact Flaim at (573) 265-2993 or by email at lflaim@meramecregion.org. —30— |