Hill County Community Foundation lists grant awards

Press release

The Hill County Community Foundation has announced four grant recipients for the 2017 grant cycle.

The HCCF 2017 grant cycle was very competitive, with the committee receiving 10 applications for funding. This year’s grantees include the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, and the KNMC 90.1 radio station. Each grantee was awarded for their respective programs in one of three HCCF focus areas: basic human needs, arts and culture, and community beautification.

The Van Orsdel United Methodist Church will be using their award to provide emergency food and hygiene items for local community members in need. The emergency food pantry, administered by the SOS Committee of Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, supports the HCCF focus area of basic human needs. KNMC 90.1, in partnership with the MSU-Northern Alumni Foundation, will be utilizing their award to develop an online, community-wide events calendar for the Havre/Hill County area. The online calendar will allow organizations to list and promote their events and will be easily accessible to all community members to find out more about local happenings.

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce will be utilizing their HCCF grant to increase the electrical capacity of Town Square, allowing them to display additional lights and decorations for the Christmas season. Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church will be utilizing their award to host beadwork classes in the Box Elder area. The skills taught at the classes will provide a cultural learning opportunity, and the knowledge gained from the classes can be applied by individuals to make and sell beadwork items. This project supports the HCCF focus area of arts and culture.

HCCF is an affiliate of the Montana Community Foundation, whose mission is to cultivate a culture of giving to empower Montana communities to flourish. As a community foundation, HCCF helps Hill County through the power of permanently endowed funds. HCCF accepts donations and awards the annual interest of the endowment fund to local projects as grants. HCCF provides valuable dollars for projects that may otherwise go unfunded. HCCF awarded a combined $2,000 to projects this year.

As the fiscal year comes to a close, HCCF seeks donations from the public to grow the HCCF endowment. As the endowment grows, more money will be reinvested into the Hill County community. All of the 2017 grant applicants were deserving, and HCCF hopes to be able to fund even more projects next year.

People with inquiries about donations or grants can email [email protected] or call Pam Veis 406-390-4947.