The Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation, a local office of the Arkansas Community Foundation, continues to administer grants from funds donated by Jefferson Regional Medical Center and invites applications.
There are two distinct funds from which grants are provided: JRMC Healthy Lifestyles Fund and the JRMC Community Health Endowment. These two funds sound similar but are created to meet different objectives. They differ in several significant ways in application and in administration.
The JRMC Community Health Endowment is intended to fund health fairs and similar projects. This is an endowed fund that generates grant money each year, into perpetuity. The grants will be awarded twice yearly, with the next cycle beginning on Jan. 10 with an application deadline of Feb. 15. Approximately $20,000 is available for granting at this time
The JRMC Healthy Lifestyles Fund has approximately $47,000 of the original gift of $200,000 remaining, all of which is intended be distributed between now and the end of 2012. Proposals will be accepted from businesses, churches, and other community groups and organizations that seek to develop programs and incentives for healthy lifestyle changes. Examples include programs that will address nutrition education, weight loss, smoking cessation, exercise and fitness as well as programs that will increase public awareness of and participation in activities that improve individual and community health. Applications for these grants will be accepted on an ongoing basis (no deadline), but will be reviewed and awards made quarterly. Applications received by March 31 will be reviewed in April. This program will cease when the entire $200,000 has been granted out.
Applicant organizations for both programs are those that serve residents of Jefferson County and surrounding counties, including Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, and Lincoln. Grants will not be awarded directly to individuals but rather to groups that will, in turn, provide these programs for individuals. An applicant organization need not be tax exempt or a public charity to be eligible for the grant program. As a condition of the grant, the recipient agrees to supply the PBACF a report on results and outcomes, and further agrees to permit PBACF and /or its affiliated organizations to use the grantee’s information for publicity purposes.
Arkansas Community Foundation makes grants to improve the quality of life in our state and collaborates with individuals, families and organizations to build local communities through philanthropy. ARCF has more than $125 million in assets and has provided more than $80 million in grants since it began operation in 1976. Contributions to ARCF, its funds and any of its 27 local affiliate offices are fully tax deductible.
For more information visit the website www.arcf.org/pinebluff or call 870-850-7934