Community Corner

Montclair Foundation Announces Spring 2014 Grant Awards

The Foundation also invites proposals for the fall cycle.

The Montclair Foundation, a tax-exempt community foundation founded in 1979, is pleased to announce that during its spring grant cycle they awarded $49,400 in grants to eight local non-profit organizations.

"Over 35 years, the Montclair Foundation grants of almost $2 million to 67 local non-profits that improve the quality of life in Montclair,” said Fred H. Langbein, Montclair Foundation's Chairman.

"In conjunction with the Foundation's oversight of Van Vleck House & Gardens, the Foundation has also fostered collaborations between VVH&G and non-profit organizations, including a music concert series with Montclair State University, outdoor films with The Montclair Film, and summer camp program with the Montclair Art Museum."

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Michelle Ruggiero, Grants Committee Co-Chair, added “During this grant cycle we’ve been able to address a diverse set of needs in our community, including a new protein initiative by The Human Needs Pantry and a moving grant to the Watchung Cooperative Preschool.”

The eight recipients of the Spring 2014 Montclair Foundation grants are the following:

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The Human Needs Pantry - $10,000 to support a new protein project, an initiative to purchase and distribute a more diverse selection of protein, including ground beef to enhance the nutrition level of more than 3,000 bags of grocery each month.

In response to the recent grant, Mike Bruno, Executive Director of the Human Needs Food Pantry, stated: "The Human Needs Food Pantry is thrilled to receive this generous grant from the Montclair Foundation. Such support is essential to our core mission of providing food and  other services to people in need."

• Interfaith Hospitality Network - $10,000 to fund programs and services provided to Montclair families who are in the IHN emergency shelter program.

The Montclair Community Pre-K - $4,000 to support the Related Arts Program, a comprehensive arts program, unique at the preschool level utilizing local artists, movement, music, Spanish and environmental science educators.

Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence - $4,500 to support the MFEE Equity and Diversity Fund for Montclair Public Schools programming.

• Montclair Shared Housing Association - $4,500 for repairs and improvements essential to maintain the common areas and residential quarters of the Montclair Inn.

National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County - $2,000 to support the Back2School Store, enabling economically disadvantaged children to “shop” for brand-new clothing, sneakers and school supplies in a one-day store set-up for them.

Urban Healthcare Initiative Program - $6,000 000 to expand the Community-Wellness Program, which helps increase patient literacy, and patient and provider ownership and accountability around seven “health pillars,” namely diabetes, COPD, hypertension/cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, aging related health issues, HIV/AIDS, and cancer screenings, in the Montclair/Bloomfield communities.

Watchung Cooperative Nursery School - $8,400 to assist the oldest preschool in Montclair with unplanned relocating expenses due to the sale of the building where the school currently leases space.

Christi Porter-Johnson, Director, Watchung Cooperative Preschool responded to the grant award: "With the sale of the Montclair Reformed Church, our school was forced to look for a new home. This grant will allow Montclair’s oldest-running preschool to continue in a new location and we are very grateful to the Montclair Foundation for giving us this opportunity.”

The Foundation is now accepting applications for its fall 2014 grant cycle. The Foundation considers grant proposals from not-for-profit organizations that meet health, educational, cultural, social service, and quality of life needs in the greater Montclair community. Awards are generally in the $1,000 to $10,000 range. Those interested in applying for consideration in the fall grant cycle must submit their proposals by September 1, 2014.

Forms and funding guidelines can be found on the Montclair Foundation’s website at: www.montclairfoundation.org.

This Press Release was submitted to Patch.


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