During the third quarter of 2008, the John T. Vucurevich Foundation awarded $1,036,000 in grants providing assistance in several areas of need, including arts, education, and health and human services. Since becoming fully funded in late 2007, the foundation has awarded more than $5 million to area nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the area. Recipients include:
- Family Services Center, Spearfish: $292,000 over two years to provide a ninth-grade transition and mentoring program in Lead-Deadwood and Spearfish schools to improve graduation rates.
- Children's Home Society, Rockerville: $150,000 over the next three years to help develop a permanent Creative Arts Program at the Black Hills Children's Home.
- University of South Dakota Foundation: $1,500 for the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute this past summer providing scholarships to young Native American artists.
- Rapid City Club for Boys: $150,000 for the nutrition program and implementation of a pilot Saturday program, which will allow Rapid City Club for Boys to be open on Saturdays during the upcoming school year and to help provide meals to those boys participating in their programs.
- YMCA of Rapid City: Up to $200,000 for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years, to continue the Jefferson Academy-High School Daycare, providing day care and mentoring to support mothers and fathers who attend school in the Rapid City schools.
- Lifeways, Southern Hills: $108,303 to continue the school-based prevention and intervention programming in Custer, Hill City, Hot Springs, Edgemont and Oelrichs schools for the upcoming school year.
- South Dakota Voices for Children: $3,200 to convene policy leaders who have knowledge and experience with issues facing children and families in poverty. The Summit on Children in Poverty will be held Nov. 13-14 in Huron.
- Belle Fourche Senior Citizens Center: $13,500 for needed building repairs to their center.
- South Dakota Guardianship Program: $5,000 for operating support.
For more information, go to www.jtvf.org or call the John T. Vucurevich Foundation at 343-3141.
