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About Michael

Michael Saunders is Senior Editor of TopGovernmentGrants.com and TopFoundationGrants.com and a network of comprehensive sites offering information on foundation and government and grants as well as federal government programs.

He also maintains sites providing resources on social entrepreneurship and social innovation. All of the sites seek to highlight innovative approaches to improving communities across the nation and the world.

Longtime Lincoln philanthropist dies at 78

June 4, 2016 6:41 pm Published by

James aJima Seacrest, a Lincoln philanthropist honored in 2014 for his charity and contributions to the city, has died.

Alongside his wife, Rhonda, Jim was awarded the Lincoln Community Foundationas Charity Award two years ago for the couple’s participation in several Lincoln nonprofit organizations, fundraising efforts and generous donations to various arts and education programs.

Seacrest was active in the newspaper industry for 40 years, and served as the president of Western Publishing Co., according to his obituary.

Elder Care joins Prairie Godmother partner agencies

June 4, 2016 6:30 pm Published by

Elder Care joins Prairie Godmother partner agencies

The Prairie Godmother fund exists to provide one-time emergency grants to women in Barton County of all ages.
“This new partnership creates a much-needed link to the senior population in our communities,” said Melanie Calcara from the Prairie Godmothers advisory committee.

Westlake High boosters grant gets OK from city attorney

June 4, 2016 5:56 am Published by

Thousand Oaks’ city attorney is recommending the city proceed with awarding Westlake High School Baseball Boosters the $20,000 grant for field improvements as originally planned.

City Attorney Tracy Noonan, who was tasked to review this particular grant, said she informed the boosters organization on Thursday that she has advised the city to “proceed with the grant in normal course.”

The grant came under scrutiny by City Manager Scott Mitnick, whose son played for the Westlake High baseball team. Documents released by the city last week showed the council had discussed the grant, Mitnick’s request to see the boosters’ financial documents, and Mitnick’s use of his city email account to help secure donations to his son’s baseball team.

Sports facilities grant

In November, the Westlake High School Baseball Boosters was among 11 groups in the city that received a grant from the city’s Sports Facilities Endowment Fund.

The city spends approximately $100,000 in general fund money each year for capital programs that benefit sports teams and other groups. Since 1998, the city has spent $1.3 million on projects such as the Westlake High School football stadium, Thousand Oaks High School swimming pool and Conejo Creek South soccer fields and restrooms.

Grants are approved by the council based on recommendations made by a seven-member citizen committee.

Westlake High School Baseball Boosters last received the grant in 2012, when it was awarded $5,500 for a retaining wall and concrete slab near the snack bar.

This year, the boosters planned to use the $20,000 to help fund a project to level the baseball field and install artificial turf in certain sections.

The boosters originally planned to hire Calabasas-based Turf Team to perform the work but after a change in coaches, the boosters sought new bids from contractors and decided to hire three separate vendors to do different aspects of the job.

According to documents, Habermann informed the city’s grant coordinator of this vendor change. He said he also didn’t know the boosters were seeking new bids.

“I absolutely would have rebid,” Vigil said.

According to officials from the Conejo Unified School District, projects not funded through the district, like this one for the boosters, must pay prevailing wages but are not required to go through a public bidding process.

Mitnick said the city requires grant recipients to abide by school district guidelines when it comes to the bidding process.

In April, Mitnick emailed Assistant Superintendent Jon Sand saying he was putting the grant on hold due to the vendor change.

National DAR issue grant to protect Elijah Winn buildings

June 4, 2016 5:55 am Published by

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution awarded a $766 grant to its Lawrenceville-based Philadelphia Winn Chapter and the Gwinnett Historical Society to weather seal the structure. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution awarded a $766 grant to its Lawrenceville-based Philadelphia Winn Chapter and the Gwinnett Historical Society to weather seal the structure. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution awarded a $766 grant to its Lawrenceville-based Philadelphia Winn Chapter and the Gwinnett Historical Society to weather seal the structure. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution awarded a $766 grant to its Lawrenceville-based Philadelphia Winn Chapter and the Gwinnett Historical Society to weather seal the structure. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution awarded a $766 grant to its Lawrenceville-based Philadelphia Winn Chapter and the Gwinnett Historical Society to weather seal the structure. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution awarded a $766 grant to its Lawrenceville-based Philadelphia Winn Chapter and the Gwinnett Historical Society to weather seal the structure.

Two out buildings at the Elisha Winn Plantation in Dacula are getting a little protection from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

The Washington-based group announced it was awarding a $766 grant to its Lawrenceville-based Philadelphia Winn Chapter to have a sealant applied to the exterior of the school house and barn to preserve both buidlings. The chapter partnered with the Gwinnett Historical Society, which runs the Elisha Winn House, on the project.

aThe project for this grant is for two out-buildings to receive exterior wood sealer applications,a Philadelphia Winn Chapter Publicity and Media Chairman Lee Schermerhorn said.

High school baseball: Huntley peaks at right time; 2 wins from state

June 4, 2016 5:33 am Published by

High school baseball: Huntley peaks at right time; 2 wins from state | Northwest Herald

High school baseball: Huntley peaks at right time; 2 wins from state
Huntley shortstop Charlie Nugent throws to first after forcing out Prairie Ridge’s Bryce Thelander at second in the sixth inning Wednesday in a Class 4A Huntley Sectional semifinal. So last year’s 9-27 record seemed more like a blip than a trend, although few people outside the program might have guessed Huntley would be the last area baseball team standing.

Charlie Nugent would have, but he’s inside the program.

“I knew we were going to struggle a little bit in the beginning of the year, figuring out what everybody’s role was, but we kept being more and more consistent,” said Nugent, the Raiders’ shortstop and one of two seniors starting. Saturday in the Stevenson Sectional title game, will be the other team.

Second baseman Trevor Ranallo, the other senior starter, and Nugent were a combined 7 for 8 in Wednesday’s 4-0 win against Prairie Ridge from the Nos.

Community Foundation receives STEM Education Leadership Award

June 4, 2016 5:33 am Published by

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi was recently honored at the STEM Education Leadership Awards presented by Nasdaq and EverFi at the Nasdaq Marketsite in New York City.

The award recognizes the Community Foundationas significant efforts to improve Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) education and career readiness for students throughout Northwest Mississippi.

A total of 16 honorees were selected based on criteria that included the scale and educational impact of their STEM education initiatives as well as unique employee volunteering activities that supplement their programs.

“It is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to use technology responsibly and to preparing them to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math,” Davidson said.

The Community Foundation has partnered with EverFi to bring the Community Digital Scholar Program to local students at no cost to schools or taxpayers and has reached over 51,300 students since 2009.

It offers two web-based programs to enhance STEMaRadius and Ignitionaand both use the latest in simulation and gaming technologies to build STEM skills and highlight the career possibilities that a STEM education can unlock.

aThe Community Foundation has its roots in education technology, starting with a community-wide initiative in 2000 to place an Internet-accessible computer in every DeSoto County public school classroom,” said Tom Pittman, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.



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