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Keystone Science School, Lake Dillon Theatre Company among recipients of Bessie Minor Swift Foundation grants

Daily News staff report
Special to the Daily

The Bessie Minor Swift Foundation (formerly Bessie Minor Charitable Fund), formed by the owners and founder of Swift Communications, awards grants to programs that promote literacy, reading and writing skills as well as programs focusing on the arts, languages and sciences. Since 2008, more than $234,000 has been awarded to nonprofit organizations in the communities where Swift Communications conducts business.

Over 220 applications were received in 2014. The Foundation grant criteria calls for detail on how many people will be impacted by the organization’s project and how significant a role the Bessie Minor Swift Foundation will play in the program. Further, applicants must provide a complete description of the project including objectives and strategies to meet those objectives, explain how the project will be evaluated and submit a budget. Recipients will report on their results and insights from their program once the projects are completed.

This year, applications were of even higher quality than previous years and more than $61,000 has been awarded to those organizations. Applications will be accepted again starting January 1, 2015, with a deadline of February 15, 2015. For more information, visit the Bessie Minor website at http://www.bessieminorswift.org.



Summit County recipients included:



Keystone Science School — $2,500

Grant awarded for in-class astronomy lessons that will reach six schools and 252 students. The in-class lessons will be followed by a family astronomy night at Keystone Science School’s campus and observatory.

Lake Dillon Theatre Company — $2,000

Grant awarded to expand programs at schools in the Summit County School District with professional performance and creative arts instruction that is integrated with the existing curriculum. A total of 330 students at four schools will be reached through this program.

Silverthorne Elementary School — $2,305.15

Grant awarded for a Reading Recovery intervention program that targets first-grade students who are struggling in reading and writing. Children will receive daily lessons taught by specifically trained teachers using books purchased with these funds.

Summit Family Resource Center — $2,000

Grant awarded to distribute age-appropriate books at 1,000 well-child visits and to explain the importance of reading in early childhood. There will be books available for families to check out as well.


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