Contact: Robin Reid, Communications Director
Madison Community Foundation
608-232-1763 or rreid@madisoncommunityfoundation.org
Madison, WI – Madison Community Foundation (MCF) announced nine grant awards totaling $1,233,144, including the second largest capital campaign gift in MCF history.
“Madison Community Foundation loves libraries,” said MCF President Kathleen Woit. “They represent the very best a community has to offer – education, information, community meeting space, and technology. Libraries are free for anyone, at any age. The Board and staff at MCF are pleased to be able to support the new downtown library with this $500,000 gift.”
Other grants in this round include a focus on literacy and training:
Madison Public Library Foundation – $500,000 to the capital campaign to build a new Madison Central Library. The new library will be 33% larger with a 250 seat auditorium, a 75 seat program room with after-hours access, and multiple smaller meeting rooms. Attendance is expected to double to 1 million in the first year of operation.
Literacy Network – $45,000 to develop a Bilingual Family Literacy program to teach literacy skills to native Spanish speaking parents of elementary students in the Madison Metropolitan School District. Teachers and staff from MMSD and Edgewood College will improve Spanish language skills and understanding of cultural issues.
Urban League of Greater Madison – $20,000 to support the launch of a Customer Service Academy to be part of ULGM job training programs that serve under- and unemployed adults. Curriculum will be based on the renowned Disney Customer Service Institute.
Vera Court Neighborhood Center – $54,000 for a Latino Academy for Workforce Development, which provides the job skills, industry accreditation, and confidence needed for adult Latinos to obtain better employment. LAWD is dedicated to ensuring a well-trained and knowledgeable workforce.
Goodman Community Center – $50,000 for Capacity Inventories and Action program. GCC is working with John McKnight, a Northwestern University professor, to empower neighbors to strengthen their community and their lives by conducting a community capacity inventory. Residents of inventoried blocks will then share resources and teach each other desired skills. MCF has been using McKnight’s Asset Building Model for funding grants since 1990.
Boys and Girls Club of Dane County – $35,000 to develop a comprehensive Creative and Performing Arts Center to bring a voice to underserved youth. Participation through lessons and performance in music, dance, choir, and drama will lead to improved cooperation, teamwork, confidence and social skills.
Clean Lakes Alliance – $37,500 to develop an engineering road map to act on the findings of the Yahara CLEAN report, resulting in a concrete plan to clean Yahara Watershed. Outcomes will include identifying and prioritizing the ten most crucial actions to reduce phosphorus load and bacterial growth, identifying responsible parties, and distinguishing funding sources for implementation.
Kennedy Heights Community Center – $30,000 for a new Youth Playground and Natural-scape. Kennedy Heights Community will work together to plan, for fundraising, and to build a community play space for youth and young children.
Middleton Cross Plains Area School District Endowment– $35,000 for a 2:1 challenge grant to leverage $70,000 for an endowment fund by the end of 2012. This endowment will provide funding for extra-curricular enhancement programs.
Madison Community Foundation encourages, facilitates and manages long-term philanthropy. It was established in 1942 as a tax-exempt community trust and is governed by a Board of Governors representing the broad interests of the community.
