Greater Sauk Funds Local Nonprofits
BARABOO, WISCONSIN; NOVEMBER 17, 2020 – The Greater Sauk Community Foundation announced today that it has awarded a total of $13,510 in Community Grants this month to 16 area nonprofits in three counties. From food for hungry children to communities hungry for social connection during the pandemic, the grants support projects in the arts, education, health, social services, and local history. A common theme among many of the applications was the need for help with the extra expenses and challenges of delivering services during the COVID crisis.
The Historic Indian Agency House, Portage Center for the Arts, and Taliesin Preservation each received $750 to make their collections available virtually to those unable to visit in person.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin and VETS (Veterans Equine Trail Services) were looking for help with the extra costs of sanitizing their sites for safe visits; they were granted $1,000 and $750, respectively. Kids Ranch received $1,000 for scholarships under their new COVID model of family visits.
River Valley Elementary School was granted $750 toward a tent rental for temporary outdoor classroom space, to give the youngest students a break from wearing masks. 4PeteSake was granted $1,000 to underwrite the expenses of next year’s fundraiser, since last summer’s fundraiser had to be canceled.
Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry was awarded $1,000 to expand its “Feed Our Future” program for the growing number of children who aren’t getting enough to eat. River Arts Inc. received $760 to sponsor a series of lectures and films this winter, which could be presented virtually should the pandemic continue to make in-person programs impossible.
Countywide, Agrace Hospice was granted $1,000 to support its new rural telemedicine program, to bring care and compassion to patients at home when they are unable to travel. Sauk County’s Aging and Disability Resource Center received $750 in funding help for the extra costs of providing “blizzard packs,” provisions for their Meals on Wheels clients in the event of bad weather.
Other grantees were: BREATHE (Baraboo River Equine-Assisted Therapies), $500 to purchase exercise equipment to provide programming during inclement weather; Rock Springs Library, $1,000 for new furniture in their children’s area; Highland Area Historical Society, $750 to update lighting in the renovated community center; and the Women’s Civic League of Portage, $1,000 to make repairs at the historic Zona Gale house.
The Greater Sauk Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to encourage charitable giving, matching local gifts to local needs. The Foundation has distributed $800,000 in grants so far this year and is approaching $5 million in total charitable grants distributed since its founding in 1998.
Governed by a volunteer board of community leaders, the Foundation is based in Baraboo and serves Adams, Columbia, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, Sauk, and Vernon counties. Donations to support the Foundation’s work may be sent to the Greater Sauk Community Foundation, PO Box 544, Baraboo, WI 53913. For more information, call (608)355-0884 or email director@greatersauk.org.