By Jenny Kirchner
Reporter/Photographer
The Idyllwild Community Fund (ICF) held its 2019 Grantee Reception at The Red Kettle restaurant Thursday night to present each of seven local nonprofits a grant to help in the various ways needed for each organization. In total, ICF handed out grants totaling $17,190.
The Idyllwild School Booster Club received $2,500 to help send 6- to 8-grade students to three-day science trips at Joshua Tree, Catalina Island Marine Institute, and AstroCamp.
The Idyllwild HELP Center received $4,000 to help fund utility assistance programs.
Soroptomists of Idyllwild received $2,000 to provide hygiene products to low-income women.
The Idyllwild Scholarship Fund received $1,500 to provide scholarships to college-bound Idyllwild students.
Spirit Mountain Retreat received $1,590 to fund services for women and men with past trauma through workshops and group sessions.
The Idyllwild School PTA smARTS received $4,500 to fund art classes at Idyllwild School.
Finally, the Friends of the Idyllwild Library received $1,100 for its centennial.
Nancy Jones, from the Idyllwild School PTA smARTS Program, explained the breakdown of how their money is spent and how the $4,500 grant they received will greatly benefit them in making the arts a possibility for the youth at Idyllwild School.
ICF President Shannon Ng was the presenter of the grants and helped Jones show the breakdown of funds.
To close out the presentation ICF Vice President Merria Velasco said, “One of the wonderful things I think about the grants that ICF gives out is that we get to see that some of these programs that we know from speaking with all of you wouldn’t be able to happen without the community grant funds money. We’re so grateful to be a part of all of these organizations.”
The history
The Idyllwild Community Fund originated in 1995 when a couple came to a local attorney and wanted to make an anonymous donation of $10,000 to benefit the community of Idyllwild, according to the presentation given by Ng. At that time interest rates were at 5% and realizing that this amount would not earn much money, a suggestion was made that affiliating with The Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties might be helpful.
A representative of ICF later met with the couple offering ideas and support. ICF became associated with The Community Foundation in April of 1996 and the first grant was distributed in 1998. The Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties has continued to guide and assist ICF in the management of the endowments and the granting process.
