Mount Vernon Community Betterment Fund Awards First Grant

Grant Will Support Local School District’s Kids In Need Program

Last year, retiring Community Foundation President & CEO Les Garner and his wife Katrina established two funds to benefit Mount Vernon. Anyone can now contribute to the Mount Vernon Community Betterment Today and Tomorrow Funds, which made their first grant earlier this year.

To ensure community voice was central to the grantmaking process, the Garners worked closely with Mayor Tom Wieseler when establishing the funds. After considering Mount Vernon’s needs, population, and challenges, Tom assembled a committee to make decisions on distributing funds.

“Being part of the committee is equally a significant honor and significant responsibility. I appreciate serving alongside such servant leaders,” said Taryn Kuntz, a Mount Vernon resident with a background in philanthropy and experience working with the school district’s foundation. “It means a lot to know this fund will live on in perpetuity and that the foundation we lay as the original committee members will impact generations to come.”

Soon after being formed, the committee was excited to begin the grantmaking process. The group quickly came to a consensus that a grant to the Mount Vernon Community School District would have the greatest impact and help meet a significant community need. As more and more families face economic hardship, a district program called Kids in Need helps youth access food, clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, and even extracurricular experiences.

“Kids in Need was started by a school nurse to provide kids with shoes, clothes, glasses, or other needed items,” said Jenna Wear, Washington Elementary Nurse. The program has continued to grow and now provides a wide range of services, including meals and gifts around the holidays. “This grant was used to stock our supply cabinets with snacks, breakfast items, personal hygiene products of all types, and school supplies.”

The Community Betterment Funds provide a way for Mount Vernon residents to raise and distribute funds in a way that fits their specific community. With both a “Today” and a “Tomorrow” fund, the grant committee can make grants in response to immediate needs while also knowing there will be long-term support for emerging needs.

“We are fortunate to have such a community fund that has long-term and short-term award components,” Tom said. “I’m sure we will find uses for this fund that we haven’t even thought of yet. While we hope it won’t happen, if we are ever hit with tragedies, having these funds in place makes it easy to accept contributions.”