Article and photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Grant County Community Foundation gave its first grants on March 19, 2018, awarding them to five community organizations.
Grant County Community Foundation gives first grants
Grant County Community Foundation founder and board chair, Barrett Brewer shows her excitement at awarding the first grants to five community organizations
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Board member Mattie Eagle hands a check to Kristen Warnack of Virus Theater
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Eagle gives a check to Polly Edmunds of Deming Silver Linings
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Eagle hands a check to Jeff Goin of Lotus Center
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Members of the Mimbres Valley Heritage Center flank Eagle, from left Chris DeBolt, Marilyn Markel and Kathy Hill.
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Eagle gives a check to Gila Valley Library board members Madge Slavec and Meritt Helfferich.
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Eagle presents to Priscilla Lucero, Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments for serving as fiscal agent for the first Community conversation.
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All the recipients with Brewer. From left are Margaret Fairman and Polly Edmunds of Silver Linings, Lucero of SWNMCOG, Goin, Brewer in front, Markel, Warnack in front, Slavec, Helfferich, DeBolt and Hill.
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Grant County Community Foundation founder Barrett Brewer almost danced with excitement that the foundation after only a few years in existence could already give out $20,000 in donations to five organizations.
Kristen Warnack of Virus Theater received the first check to help pay for the hearing and cooling system in the El Sol, the home of the group.
Polly Edmunds of Deming's Silver Linings received funding for the group's efforts to feed the homeless and ultimately provide shelter for them.
Lotus Center will provide yoga classes to two schools, José Barrios and La Plata Middle School. Jeff Goin was happy to received the funding.
Several members of the Mimbres Valley Heritage Center gathered to accept a check, which will provide funding to purchase equipment for fifth-graders to take part this summer in an archaeological field camp put on by University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Kathy Hill, Marilyn Markel and Chris DeBolt accepted the check.
Gila Valley Library board members Madge Slavec and Merritt Helferrich received funding to help provide an addition to the library building for children's activities.
Priscilla Lucero also accepted recognition for her role as the executive director of the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments, which serves as the fiscal agent for the foundation.