By JAN McLAUGHLIN / BG Independent News – January 18th, 2024

As the Bowling Green Community Foundation prepared to hand out grants Thursday evening to new recipients, members were serenaded by a past recipient. Beats from the new BGHS quad drums – paid for last year with a BGCF grant – set the scene for the next round of grants.

“I think our investment was a wise one,” BGCF President Marcia Latta said as the music from the drum line was still reverberating in the room.

It was over 30 years ago that some movers and shakers in Bowling Green tried to get a community foundation started. In the first go round, the idea was passed over as a Leadership BG project, but the founders knew they had a good plan.

So they tried again, and gathered support in the community. Since then, the grants have been the seed money for new organizations, and the start up of new projects.

“Many thousands of lives have been touched,” Latta said.

The Bowling Green Community Foundation, a non-profit entity, exists to improve the quality of life in the Bowling Green area by providing funding and support for a variety of programs that enhance the health, welfare and vitality of the Bowling Green community. Private contributions from individuals and businesses are the sole support of the foundation.

“We love to see new ideas, collaborative projects or programs that make Bowling Green an even better place,” Latta said. “Our selections may be for educational or athletic activities, health or safety initiatives, environmental sustainability, visual or performing arts, youth development – as long as it is a non-profit, and is not a repeat of something we have funded in the past few years, we’ll take a look.”

Currently grants range from $500 to $7,500.

“It is cause for celebration that many thousands of lives are touched because of the remarkable partnership between our donors and the outstanding organizations that exist to serve the residents of Bowling Green,” Latta said.

Wood Lane Residential Services Inc. – Poe Mowbility Crew

• $5,999 to purchase a riding lawn mower for a vocational landscaping program for adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities who are served by Wood Lane Residential Services Inc.

For FULL ARTICLE and to see other recipients:  https://bgindependentmedia.org/bg-community-foundation-gives-out-grants-to-16-organizations-that-make-a-difference-in-local-lives/