Hill County Community Foundation awards three grants

Press release

The Hill County Community Foundation has announced that its has awarded grants to Havre Public Schools and Opportunity Link Inc., Van Orsdel United Methodist Church and Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club.

The foundation’s 2016 grant cycle was very competitive, with seven groups applying to the committee for funding. Each grantee was awarded for its respective program in one of three focus areas: basic human needs; arts and culture; and community beautification.

Havre Public Schools, in partnership with Opportunity Link, will be using its award to provide food for children via the backpack program that runs throughout the school year. The backpack program ensures that children who are in need of nourishment are sent home with food each weekend.

While the public schools coordinate this program during the school year, the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church manages this program during the summer months. The backpack program, administered by different entities throughout the year, supports the HCCF focus area of basic human needs.

The Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club will be leveraging their award with a grant from the Lions Club to establish a Veterans Memorial Garden within the city of Havre for enjoyment by the community and veterans. This project supports the HCCF focus area of community beautification.

HCCF is an affiliate of the Montana Community Foundation, whose mission is to cultivate a culture of giving to empower Montana communities to flourish. As a community foundation, HCCF helps Hill County through the power of permanently endowed funds. HCCF accepts donations and awards the annual interest of the endowment fund to local projects as grants. HCCF provides valuable dollars for projects that may otherwise go unfunded. HCCF awarded a combined $1,500 to projects this year.

As the fiscal year comes to a close, HCCF seeks donations from the public to grow the HCCF endowment. As the endowment grows, more money will be reinvested into the Hill County community. All of the 2016 grant applicants were deserving, and HCCF hopes to be able to fund even more projects next year.

People with inquiries about donations or grants can email [email protected] or call Pam Veis at 390-4947.