Lewis and Clark County
Community Foundation

2007 Grant Awards

AARP Tax-Aide Montana provides free tax assistance and preparation to low-income individuals and senior citizens in Lewis & Clark County. A Foundation grant of $1,000 was awarded to purchase used laptop computers to e-file tax returns, resulting in shorter wait times and reduced tax preparation time at the organizations’ tax preparation sites.

LCCF awarded $500 to the Angel Fund, which reaches over 250 children each year with financial help for basic school supplies, clothing and shoes, and fees for field trips and materials for school projects. LCCF’s grant helps sustain this support for children in grades K-12 in the Helena School district.

Augusta Public Schools asked for the opportunity to use an environmentally sound approach to weed control. With this goal in mind, LCCF awarded a grant of $500 to purchase insects for biological control of knapweed and leafy spurge, which are to be disbursed in areas not readily accessible.

LCCF also granted $500 to the Augusta Public Schools for the purchase of a book display stand and holder for the school library and biographies of famous persons for the elementary level students.

The Augusta Senior Citizens’ Organization provides hot meals for low-income seniors, including those who are home bound. The $1,000 grant will go towards assisting with these hot meals.

The Cathedral of St. Helena was awarded a grant of $750 to help with the installation of a credit card machine for its gift shop. The proceeds of the gift shop help maintain and preserve the historic Cathedral.

The Center for Mental Health Foundation, which raises funds for the Center for Mental Health (formerly Golden Triangle), received a grant of $500 from LCCF to allow clients that are leaving supported living for independent living to purchase tickets for social and recreational activities. Socializing outside of the Center is an important part of these clients’ recovery models.

At the Florence Crittenton Home and Services, teen mothers learn how to be good parents and nurturers to their babies. Providing living quarters for the babies means needing to have a safe home. A grant of $500 helped to purchase four baby gates and to construct four raised garden beds for gardening, economic, and nutrition education.

Good Samaritan Ministries of Helena assists individuals during times of need. A Foundation grant of $500 funded cash vouchers given to individuals to pay for rental payments, utility payments, medical, dental, and other essential services.

The Grandstreet Theatre School of Helena has educational and fun summer sessions for children to learn theater skills and participate in productions. LCCF granted $350 to provide for two scholarships for the two-week summer session classes.

The Last Chance Community Pow Wow, which held its 9th annual celebration of community and state Native American/American Indian heritage in 2007, was awarded $1,000 by the Foundation to support attendance at “Pow Wow Demonstration Day” by Lewis & Clark County elementary school students.

The Lewis & Clark County Child Advocacy Center of A.W.A.R.E. offers help and hope to victims of child abuse and their families. The Foundation granted $1,000 to help purchase much needed materials for resource packets given to families with victimized children. The grant will also fund the purchase of 3,500 informational pamphlets on child sexual abuse that are distributed to families in Lewis & Clark County in an effort to help adults keep children safe and prevent child sexual abuse.

Lewis & Clark County Historical Society, a volunteer organization since 1989, operates a Heritage Center on Helena’s Walking Mall and actively engages in providing public programs, exhibits, tours, and newspaper articles promoting the preservation of Lewis & Clark County’s historic and prehistoric attributes. LCCF awarded the Society a grant of $1,000 for the purchase of wood restoration materials for old Trolley car #3, an actual trolley once used in Helena, as part of an interactive learning project with students from Capital High School in Helena.

The Lewis & Clark Library Public Foundation received a $500 grant to assist in paying for keynote speaker Claudia Johnson, visiting scholar, to come to Montana to present a lecture on the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee as part of the library’s “The Big Read Under the Big Sky” program.

Lincoln Public Schools received a $500 grant from LCCF to purchase a new marquee sign for communication of school activities to parents, students, and the community at large.

LCCF awarded $500 to the Lincoln Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) for the purchase of new school playground equipment that meets ADA and ATSA standards to replace outdated equipment.

The Live! at the Civic concert series provides Helena audiences with an opportunity to enjoy quality entertainment in the form of professional performing arts in music, dance, or musical theater. The Foundation granted $500 to stage one free on-site performance for residents of local nursing facilities or assisted living facilities who are not physically able to leave or have difficulty leaving the facility. The grant also covered a free mini-workshop and live performance at the 2008 Kids Fair at the Capital Hill Mall.

Marysville Volunteer Fire Department is a rural fire department seeking training and equipment opportunities for its volunteers. The Foundation granted $1,200 to be used toward the purchase of a defibrillator and EMT training costs for two volunteer firefighters.

Working for Equality and Economic Liberation (WEEL) is a grassroots economic and social justice organization that works to eradicate the myths, stereotypes, and stigmas that are harmful to low-income families, and ensures that those most affected by poverty are civically engaged. WEEL received a grant of $700 from the Foundation for irrigation, infrastructure, and free gardening classes for low income Helena residents as part of its new Growing Community Project, which will create inclusive community gardens within walking distance of Helena neighborhoods.

2006 Grant Awards
Listed under Fields of Interest and Designated Urban (U) or Rural (R)
(Note: Grants made to organizations headquartered in Helena are classified as Urban and organizations located outside of Helena are classified Rural. Recipients benefiting from these grants may live throughout Lewis and Clark County.)

Supporting Essential Services: $1,050
Augusta Volunteer Fire Department R
Canyon Creek Volunteer Fire Department R

Improving Community Facilities: $500
Helena Valley Community Center (building improvements) R

Expanding School Resources and Educational Programs: $1,500
Augusta Public Schools R
MT Discovery Foundation (4th grade project) U
Lewis and Clark Co. Literacy Council U

Promoting Arts and Culture: $850
Holter Museum U
MT Living History Program U

Encouraging Historic Preservation: $500
Augusta Historical Society R

Fostering Conservation and Natural History: $600
Prickly Pear Land Trust U

Nurturing Youth Programs (outside school): $1,500
City of East Helena Youth Recreation Program R
Lewis and Clark County Library – Teen Lock-In U
Helena Family YMCA (Youth Lodge) U

Extending Health and Caring Services: $5,500
Equine Horizons R
Farm In the Dell Int. U
Florence Crittenton Home and Services U
Friendship Center U
God’s Love Family Transitional Center U
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity U
Helena Special Olympics U
Montana Legal Services Assn. U
Peers Unlimited U
RMDC, Inc. Head Start (Parent Resource Library) U

2005 Grant Awards

The Angel Fund reaches over 250 children each year who need help with basic supplies, adequate clothing and shoes, and related fees for field trip and materials for class projects. A grant of $400 from LCCF will help sustain that support for needy families with children in grades K-12 in the Helena School District.

Augusta Schools received a grant of $500, which will support their science curriculum and study of Leafy Spurge and Knapweed. Students are engaged in identifying insects as biological control against these noxious plants, mapping the release of the insects, and photographing and measuring their effectiveness.

The Augusta Volunteer Ambulance provides emergency care and transportation of the injured and ill in the northern part of Lewis and Clark County and portions of Cascade and Teton counties. A grant of $500 will enhance the safety of all non-paid volunteers with the purchase of protective equipment and gear, including outer protective wear and fluorescent lumenators.

Canyon Creek Elementary School is the oldest continuously operated school in the state, providing quality education for students living in the area. Its library has been housed on the school stage without adequate shelves. A grant for $500 will be used to purchase moveable book trucks and improved storage.

Career Training Institute provides individualized services, resources and opportunities for training and employment. Of particular note is their financial literacy training for low-income individuals. A grant of $500 will provide on-going support for this program.

Community Works, Inc. invites people of all ages to explore science and cultural activities. Their community garden program is a unique outdoor classroom for students and elder-youth mentoring. A grant of $400 from LCCF will go towards the construction of an 8 x 16 garden shed at the new location near the YMCA and Last Chance Gulch.

The Friendship Center of Helena provided shelter and services to 861 victims of violence in 2004. Their aging building will soon be replaced with a new facility, and during the construction phase, alternative housing will be needed for victims and office space for staff. LCCF’s grant of $500 will help with these temporary relocation expenses.

Helena Civic Television (HCTV) will utilize their $500 grant from LCCF to purchase portable mobile audio equipment that meets telecast quality standards. With this advancement, HCTV can expand coverage of meetings and events in small communities beyond Helena.

Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to an area of approximately 74 square miles east of Helena. With growing demands for services, the administrative aspects of the department have been overlooked. A grant of $700 will fund the purchase of a computer and monitor for the fire hall office, to replace personal equipment on loan from volunteer firefighters.

Lewis and Clark Trail Bicentennial Commission of L & C County
The Lewis and Clark traveling Corps of Discovery II Exhibit goes on the road in the summer of 2006 with 99 scheduled stops across Montana, including the town of Lincoln on June 30-July2, 2006. The tent and exhibits will be housed at the high school, where children activities and programs will be a feature. LCCF has awarded a grant of $500 to support these youth programs.

Lewis and Clark Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol focuses on youth leadership and participation in community services. The cadet program is for participants ages 12 to 21, providing experiences in emergency relief, assisting the elderly, and support to a number of community services. A grant of $500 will help with the purchase uniforms and equipment for 10 youth members participating in the Honor Guard Program.

Lewis and Clark Library will sponsor the third annual Battle of the Books to help enthuse and challenge young readers and their families, aided by a grant from LCCF for $400. Schools throughout the county are invited to enter teams of fourth and fifth grade students who will undertake reading from the 2006 Young Readers’ Choice titles and demonstrate their understanding of the stories. The competition results in four top teams winning prize money to purchase books for their school libraries.

Lewis and Clark Literacy Council is working to make ensure that every adult in the County has the opportunity to acquire reading, writing, English language and work force skills. A grant of $700 has been awarded to underwrite two training seminars during the next year for volunteer tutors, and to provide literacy materials for the English Conversation Class.

Mikal Kellner Foundation addresses the critical needs of domestic and wild animals. LCCF’s grant of $500 will be applied to making improvements at the Montana Wildlife Center, constructing additional bear cub enclosures and expanding the food prep and medical areas at the rehab center

Montana Credit Union Foundation provides education and outreach for individuals on low incomes with a program called “Building Security Through Assets and Financial Education” (BSAFE). It provides economic development opportunities for survivors of domestic violence in the Helena area. Good financial education leads to stability and independence, to the benefit of the individual, family, and community. A grant of $500 will help support BSAFE in the coming year.

The Montana Historical Society’s “Pages in History,” is series of discussions about outstanding Montana books. Free and open to the public, the series has attracted strong attendance since its inception in 2004. That audience is expanded even further when sessions are broadcast on Helena Public Access Television. A grant of $700 will provide partial support for a coordinator for this popular community program.

The Montana Legal Services Association provides free legal assistance in civil cases to low-income people. In recognition that 14.5% of County residents fall below the poverty line, the Association will institute a Self-Help Law Center computer in the Lewis and Clark Courthouse to provide legal information and advice for County residents, specifically those who can not afford an attorney. LCCF’s grant of $500 will assist with purchase of the computer and set-up of the service, which will be staff by trained volunteers and personnel from MCSA.

The Montana Mental Health Association has received a grant of $500 to advance its program of mental health consumer training with one workshop and one video conference in Lewis and Clark County. The focus of this training is the model of “Wellness Recovery Action Plan,” a method of self-directed care to identify techniques and strategies for reducing symptoms, as well as ongoing management and prevention.

Student Advocates for Valuing the Environment Foundation or S.A.V.E. works to expand recycling opportunities in the Helena Valley. A grant of $400 from LCCF will enable SAVE to provide an online recycling guide for area consumers and businesses.

The Student Assistance Foundation provides information and resources about ways to finance and pursue post secondary education. On February 12, 2006, the Foundation will host College Goal Sunday, and transportation for high school students wanting to attend from outlying communities will be funded by a grant of $500.

The Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society works to preserve the area’s history. Completing an interpretive center that will be open to the public has been a major accomplishment. LCCF’s grant of $400 provides for purchase of materials and the installation of flooring for the center.

Wolf Creek’s Volunteer Fire Company provides fire protection and emergency medical services for an area of more than 400 square miles. Eight new volunteers have completed their first responder and EMT training. LCCF’s grant of $400 will outfit those volunteers with the necessary medical supply bags.

Lewis and Clark County Community Foundation
2004 Grant Awards
A total of $8000 has been awarded to nineteen programs and projects throughout the county.

Marysville Pioneers
A grant of $500 is awarded to assist with renovations of the historic Pioneer Building, including replacement of windows, installation of a new heater, and re-flooring, and with restoration of the Marysville Cemetery.

Canyon Ferry Fire Service Area Board of Trustees
A grant of $500 is for the purchase of a set of CPR dummies and accompanying face shields for an on-going program of emergency medical training for fire department members and the general public in the boundaries of the area.

Augusta Public Schools
A grant of $500 will be used to update and enhance the library’s selection of autobiographies for grades K through 12. More than 100 students, 20 staff, and the community of Augusta will benefit from the expanded collection

East Helena Parent-Teacher Association / Youth Service Corp
A grant of $200 provides start-up funds for equipment and identifying t-shirts for volunteer members of the East Helena Youth Service Corp in their work to improve community life through service projects, especially for senior citizens.

Lincoln Senior Citizen Association
$500 is awarded to the Lincoln Senior Center for interior repairs to the ceiling so that vital social services, daily meals, and programs can continue in a safe and pleasant setting.

Fort William Henry Harrison Museum Foundation
$500 is granted for the production of materials about Lewis and Clark’s Voyage of Discover for area elementary and high school students who visit the Military Museum at Fort Harrison.

Career Training Institute
CTI is receiving a grant of $500 to provide financial literacy training for low-income women and children to build greater self-sufficiency and confidence.

Florence Crittenton Home and Services
New printers will be purchased with a grant of $350, to augment existing computer labs which are integral to skill building and job development training for the young women at the home.

Helena Area Habitat for Humanity
With a grant of $500 LCCF will assist with the construction of a new home and join in the partnership of local businesses, churches, individual donors, and the family for which the home is intended.

Helena Education Foundation
$500 is awarded to cover expenses associated with a day-long workshop in Helena October 5, 2004, with Chrysti the Wordsmith, for teachers and students interested in writing and the history of language, plus an evening community event.

Helena Lions Swim Team
Lap Counters for distance swimming events will be purchased with $250 granted to the Lions Swim Team. Approximately 150 young swimmers participate in the Winter Short Course and Summer Long Course programs.

Holter Museum of Art
A grant of $300 is awarded to assist with the partnership between Helena Industries and the Museum for part-time maintenance of the new garden and outdoor sculpture area on the museum grounds.

Lewis and Clark Literacy Council
LCCF is awarding a grant of $500 to the Literacy Council to help with costs of hosting an intensive training session for community volunteer tutors, to be conducted by ProLiteracy America instructors.

Montana Conservation Corps Montana Youth YES
An LCCF grant of $350 provides for one service award to a local teen who successfully completes MCC’s Montana Youth YES, a five week summer program of community service.

Montana Discovery Foundation
$500 is awarded to the Adopt A Species curriculum for area elementary schools, an on-going program developed and conducted by the Helena National Forest, the Kellner Foundation, and the Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. This year the focus is on “Lewis and Clark: Habitat Then and Now.”

Montana Historical Society
The project to repair and renovate the landmark Thomas Meagher statue in front of the Capital is receiving a grant of $250 from LCCF.

Last Chance Community Pow Wow
A grant of $300 will support the production of this 6th annual celebration of our community and statewide Native American heritage.

Gods Love Family Transitional Center
$500 is awarded to The Center’s continuing work to create a safe place for homeless families and for services that provide education, employment opportunities, children’s activities, and medical care.

American Lung Assoc. of the Northern Rockies
LCCF is providing a grant of $500 for scholarship assistance for two children who are county residents to attend Camp Huff n’ Puff for learning about managing asthma while experiencing outdoor adventures.

2003 Grants

American Lung Association - $500
Artisan Dance Theatre - $200
Brownie Troop 108 (Lincoln) - $250
Career Training Institute - $500
Community Works - $300
Grandstreet Theatre - $300
Helena Civic Theatre - $300
Helena Indian Alliance - $300
Helena Symphony - $200
J. Walker Arena, Inc. (East Helena) - $500
Last Chance Community Pow Wow - $250
Lincoln Public School - $400
Marysville Volunteer Fire Department - $500
Montana Historical Society - $400
Montana Veterans Foundation - $350
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - $500
Rocky Mountain Development Council Head Start - $450
York Community Hall and Club (Lewis and Clark Historical Society as fiscal agent) $500

2002 Grants

Total Granted: $5,000

2001 Grants

Total Granted: $2,700

2000 Grants

Total Granted: $850.