New foundation fund will help fight recession

By: Staff Reports | sports@morganton.com
Published: April 04, 2009

Morganton --

Nonprofit organizations and churches in Burke County may qualify for more money that helps them meet ever-growing needs caused by the economic recession and high unemployment.
The Community Foundation of Burke County has pledged $50,000 to "seed" a Recession Response Fund.
"This is a community-wide effort to begin to address the financial crises that many individuals and families are experiencing for the first time," said Executive Director Caroline Avery. "These are tough times. As a community, we need to work together to help one another."
The fund will help meet increasing demands on organizations who address basic needs for food, shelter and housing, heating and other utility assistance and medical and mental-health issues, she said.
The Community Foundation also invites the community to contribute to the Recession Response Fund.
"Gifts of any size are welcome," Avery said. "The Community Foundation has waived its administrative fees" — money the foundation charges for managing distributions from charitable endowments and bequests — "so 100 percent of the money raised will be granted during 2009 for critical and basic needs in Burke County."
Foundation President John W. Ervin Jr. said, "We encourage individuals and families to continue to support those nonprofits and churches that they dearly love, but, if they are able to sacrifice further, this fund will help put food on the table and a roof over the head of many in this community."
Certified 501(c)(3) organizations and churches with projects aimed at providing the basic needs listed above may apply for funding before April 30. The application and grant guidelines are on the Community Foundation Web site, www.cfburkecounty.org.
The foundation's grants committee, chaired by Doris Fullwood, will review the applications and make distribution recommendations to the board of directors.
The Community Foundation's mission is to serve thousands of people who share a common desire: to make the Burke County community a better place to live now and countless years from now, Avery said. Gifts are accepted from individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create a pool of charitable dollars from which grants and scholarships are awarded to address community needs.
"Because most of the (named) funds are permanent, they will provide financial support to this community forever," said Avery, "impacting innumerable lives and shaping the future of Burke County."
For more about the Community Foundation and its Recession Response Fund, call Avery at 437-7105, e-mail her at info@cfburkecounty.org or visit the Web site at www.cfburkecounty.org.
The foundation's offices are in the Financial Center, 205 N. King St. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 1156, Morganton, NC 28680.

New foundation fund will help fight recession

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Most Popular

More Ways to Connect

Reader Photos» Browse More

Things to Do