For Immediate Release
March 11, 2009
Contact: Robin Reid
Madison Community Foundation
2 Science Court
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 232-1763
rreid@madisoncommunityfoundation.org
Madison Community Foundation Supports Basic Needs - First Round Grant Awards
The Madison Community Foundation Board of Governors elected to change MCF unrestricted grantmaking this year to respond to basic needs, focusing on non-profits that serve Dane County in the areas of shelter, food and energy assistance. The Board has made its first round of grants, distributing $250,000 to nine organizations, helping build long-term capacity and serve short-term needs. The funds will be used for bricks and mortar and equipment. Seven of the grants are for members of Dane County’s food pantry network, impacting all 46 of the food pantries throughout the county. These seven projects will increase food gathering and refrigeration, expand food storage and shipping capability, and help pantries better serve their growing clientele.
"Each of these grants supports a strong community asset and helps them bridge these difficult times," says Tom Linfield, Vice President of Grantmaking at MCF. “By investing in the county’s infrastructure, the Madison Community Foundation ensures the long-term success of these non-profits and supports their vitally important work."
Distributed early this year in an effort to expedite increased capacity for the pantries in particular, the grants awarded this round will leverage additional funding or savings of over $1 million for these organizations. A second round focusing on services for the elderly, energy, and food stamps programs will be announced in April. The MCF grant program is nimble and alert to new opportunities, engaging our community’s best leaders and ensuring their programs’ strength, sustainability and success. A brief synopsis of each grant award follows below.
Grant Synopsis
Community Action Coalition
$27,000 toward the purchase of a larger truck and pallet jack for the CAC site, enabling a larger volume of food to be distributed more efficiently. A combination of utility carts, 2-wheel dollies and manual pallet jacks will also be provided for small pantries around Dane County, greatly increasing efficiency.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
$25,000 for purchase of a large, three-door freezer and small refrigerated semi-trailer, allowing increased capacity to acquire, store and disseminate frozen food and dairy products. The trailer will also be used periodically to temporarily store overflow stock.
Bethel Lutheran Church
$23,000 for extensive shelving, a freezer, and food-bins needed to equip the soon-to-be expanded facility of one of Dane County’s largest food pantries. These fixtures will allow the Bethel pantry to serve as many as 3000 households in 2009 and up to 3500 households in 2010.
Second Harvest Food Bank
$11,000 will be used for two projects: First, the discounted purchase of GPS and tracking software will save over 40% of the transportation costs of collecting and disseminating over seven million pounds of food a year. Second, acquisition of “high pile” pallet racking will increase storage area by at least 65%.
East Madison Community Center
$5,000 will purchase and install a commercial grade freezer to increase the capacity of the East Madison Community Center. This greatly expanded space increases the volume and quality of food available to over 300 participant families on Madison’s east side.
The River Food Pantry
$15,000 will purchase two commercial refrigeration units to replace existing, inefficient models. Pantry usage increased by 85% from 2007 to 2008. The larger units will allow greater capacity to serve the increased client load, accommodating up to 2000 families per month.
First United Methodist Church
$22,000 will provide an upright freezer and additional shelving to store and disseminate provisions for a clientele that has increased by 20% between September 2008 and January 2009 alone. FUMC collaborates with a large number of Senior Centers and provides specialized food, personal care and hygiene items for seniors and individuals with dietary restrictions.
Habitat For Humanity (HFHDC)
$75,000 for the purchase of a used excavator and foundation forms to excavate and install foundations for all Habitat homes created now and in the future in Dane County. Formerly contracted to local concrete companies, this function, once brought in-house, will create enough savings to build an additional Habitat house per year. In addition, the HFHDC Excavation and Foundation Training Program will work with local training programs to teach new skills and provide leadership training to apprentices and volunteers onsite.
Porchlight, Inc.
$50,000 to renovate a building to create 22 transitional housing units for homeless veterans. The improvements will include a commercial kitchen for the expansion of Porchlight Products program. This grant will help leverage over $500,000 in federal funding the first year and $200,00 per year after. The objective of the project is that 75% of the veterans completing the program increase their employment income and improve skills that lead to job security.
Madison Community Foundation encourages, facilitates and manages long-term philanthropy. It advances philanthropy as a means to building assets by establishing endowments for people connected to Madison and distributing grants for the betterment of Dane County residents. The Madison Community Foundation was established in 1942 as a tax-exempt community trust and is governed by a Board of Governors representing the broad interests of the community.