The Hood River Lions Club Foundation Trust grant steering committee has chosen the award winners for funding for 2003. The Lions received requests totaling over $355,000 for numerous programs and projects around Hood River County. The club awarded a total of $68,257 in grants plus $23,005 in special awards for the Hood River Valley High School Stadium Project, concrete work at Jackson Park and high school college scholarships, for a grand total of $91,263.
While a subtantial amount, the grand total is down from previous years; in fact, according to Mike Schend of the Hood River Lions Club, it’s the lowest it’s ever been.
“It’s just due to the way the economy is, everything’s down,” he said. “Interest on the investments is down, and until the economy turns around, it’s going to be that way.”
In more prosperous times, the interest earned on the trust fund enabled them to grant as much as $160,000, Schend said.
The following non-profit organizations and agencies will receive money in December:
* PROD, $1,462, to assist low income residents spay/neuter pets;
* Helping Hands Against Domestic Violence, $665, to purchase materials;
* Boy Scouts, $1,562, for purchasing gear;
* Cascade Locks School SMART reader program, $1,054;
* Port of Cascade Locks, $5,000, playground equipment;
* Columbia River Gorge Aviation, $500, scholarships;
* Hood River County Museum, $625, educational trunk;
* Hood River County Parks Department, $2,500, shelter project;
* Columbia Gorge Earth Center, $6,000;
* Columbia Gorge Center, $2,156, activities;
* Dynamos Soccer Club, $1,000, scholarships;
* Big Brother/Big Sister program, $1,187;
* First Book program, $1,250;
* Eye Openers Lions Club 4th of July fireworks, $2,875;
* New Parent Services, $1,187, parent education;
* Arts in Education, $1,812, artist in residence;
* Next Door, Inc., $725, Life Skills program;
* Odell Fire Department, $6,659, equipment storage;
* Columbia Gorge Pregnancy intervention and prevention, $466;
* Hospice of The Gorge, $1,869, technology upgrades;
* Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, $1,625, cardio program;
* Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, $1,375, Sunshine Club;
* Oregon Children’s Foundation, $1,450, SMART reader program;
* Commission on Children & Families, $3,312, scholarships;
* Hood River Fire Department, $3,000, safety equipment;
* Columbia Arts Center, $2,562, renovation project;
* Next Door, Inc., $375, HAPA program;
* Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, $2,000, diabetes project;
* Mid Columbia Centro Cultural Spanish radio station, $3,000;
* Helping Hands Against Violence, $2,114;
* Bravissimo Music Camp, $1,125;
* City of Cascade Locks, $775, youth activities.
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