Flathead Community Foundation Awards Grants at Sweet Charity

Kalispell, MT, January 25, 2010 - The Flathead Community Foundation (FCF) awarded $5,000 in grants to eight organizations at its Sweet Charity celebration on January 25 at the Central School Museum. The event honored the organization's 2010 grant recipients, including Big BrothersBig Sisters, Flathead Shelter Friends, Foy's to Blacktail Trails, Glacier Symphony & Chorale, Literacy Volunteers, The Nurturing Center, Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center, and Tamarack Grief Resource Center.

Among the speakers at Sweet Charity was Lex Blood of the donor-advised Sustainability Fund, FCF's largest fund. Blood recognized several of the Sustainability Fund's grantees, including Citizens for a Better Flathead, the Flathead Audubon Society, Flathead Land Trust, Foy's to Blacktail Trails, the Nonprofit Development Partnership, and Resource Media.

All grant recipients expressed gratitude at the event for FCF's support. Tim Sievers, Executive Director, Big BrothersBig Sisters, noted:"Montana is plagued by all the social problems of urban areas without the network of resources often available in larger communities, but it doesn't have to be this way". He thanked FCF for their grant and for joining with his organization to change the future for youth in the Flathead Valley through strong mentor relationship programs.

The Flathead Community Foundation's (FCF) mission is to enrich the lives of present and future generations by supporting philanthropy in the Flathead Valley. Since its founding in 2005, FCF has distributed $400,000 in grants to 65 community service organizations. FCF serves donors and charities by gathering donors' gifts in permanent endowments or pass-through funds; by growing individual funds through professional investment management; and by distributing fund proceeds according to donor wishes through grants to local organizations. For more information visit FlatheadCommunityFoundation.org or call 756-9047.