Community Grants totaling $32,850 were recently awarded by the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation at its February 2016 Board of Directors meeting. Recipients of these grants are the Fort Atkinson Senior Center, Luther Elementary School, Project Lead, the Ernie Pope Art Show, and the Fort Atkinson Community Band.
Audio-Visual Equipment at the Senior Center
The largest award of $13,500 was granted to the Fort Atkinson Senior Center to help purchase a variety of much needed audio-visual equipment. The project developed by Chris Nye, director of the Senior Center, includes new cordless microphones, audio speakers, video equipment, mixer, amplifier, a drop-down projection screen and a ceiling-mounted projector. This comprehensive new audio system will allow for transmission throughout the entire building.
The project’s most innovative feature, which is being funded by a $4,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Fort Atkinson, is the installation of a T-coil Hearing Loop system which will magnetically transmit sound from the new audio system directly to telecoils in hearing aids. For those seniors who are hearing impaired, this will provide a dramatic improvement in their hearing experience and hopefully allow them to attend more events, thus improving social interaction and engagement.
The grant will come from the Foundation’s Senior Center Fund.
PlayWeb at Luther Elementary School
Also receiving an award this year was Luther Elementary School which received a matching grant of $9,700 to purchase and install a large piece of playground equipment called a PlayWeb. Last spring, several Luther students worked together in an effort to improve the school’s playground. They did research, gave presentations, conducted fundraising, and finally arranged for a school-wide vote on the preferred piece of equipment, which turned out to be the PlayWeb. Installation should take place this spring.
The grant will come from the Foundation’s Bertha and Marilyn Kuhl Fund held at Badger Bank.
Brietzke Wetland Upgrade by Project Lead
Another successful grant application was submitted by Project Lead, a leadership training class sponsored by the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce. They were awarded $8,000 to help improve and enhance the Brietzke Educational Wetland area next to Luther School. This is a matching grant so the class still has to raise $8,000 to earn the grant.
Anyone interested in helping the group realize these exciting new improvements and additions to the wetland can learn more by visiting www.facebook.com/brietzkewetland. Donations can be directed to the Project Lead Fund at the Community Foundation, 244 North Main Street in Fort Atkinson. In addition, credit card donations can be made through the foundation’s secure website at www.fortfoundation.org.
This grant will come from the Foundation’s Mary Hoard Fund.
Ernie Pope Memorial Art Awards
A grant of $1,150 was awarded to provide the prizes for the annual Ernie Pope Memorial Art Show coming up this year on Tuesday, May 24th. Organized by the art teachers of the school district and sponsored by Fort Community Credit Union, this juried art show highlights some of the finest artwork being produced by our students.
The grant will come from the Foundation’s Ernie Pope Memorial Art Fund.
Audio components for Community Band
Finally, the Foundation has awarded a grant of $500 to the Fort Atkinson Community Band to help purchase new audio components for the band’s 2016 season. Each summer, the Community Band performs a series of concerts at Barrie Park to the benefit of hundreds of concert-goers. Other groups, such as the Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club, have also donated funds to help with this project.
This grant will come from the Foundation’s Mary Hoard Fund.
Fort Atkinson Community Foundation
The Fort Atkinson Community Foundation helps to fund community projects that are focused on improving the general quality of life in Fort Atkinson. To view grant guidelines and learn more about the Foundation, visit www.fortfoundation.org. Questions may be directed to Sue Hartwick, program administrator of the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, at (920) 563-3210 or by email at facf@fortfoundation.org.