The Erie Community Foundation announced yesterday they have distributed $259,145 to thirty-four nonprofits and $19,855 worth of education mini-grants to 27 schools as part of the “Helping today” grantmaking.

Also at the press conference, Mary Bula, vice president of the Growth Partnership, and Judith Fagan, project manager of ReThink Erie, presented an update of the status of the Community College. The Community College is one initiative of The Erie Community Foundation’s “Shaping tomorrow” agenda, which is overseen by Shiloh Turner, vice president of Programs at the Foundation.

The $259,145 was distributed to 34 local charities with an educational mission as follows:

1. Americans for the Competitive Enterprise System (ACES) – PA Business Week in Corry & Ft. LeBoeuf High Schools – $5,000 award

2. ArtsErie – Union City Community Art Project Collaborative – $10,000 award

3. Awareness Ministries/Safe-Haven – Youth & Childcare Center Renovations – $5,000 award

4. Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies – Simulator Project – $10,000 award

5. Books for Kids – Wayne School Reading Project Collaborative – $10,000 award

6. Camp Notre Dame – Summer Camp Scholarships – $5,000 award

7. Caring for Children – Preschool Room Expansion – $7,000 award

8. C.H.A.M.P.S. – Community Partners – $10,000 award

9. Community Country Day School – Weekend Retreat & Cafeteria Flooring – $8,500 award

10. Early Connections Inc. – Rural Family Economic Success – $15,000 award

11. Educational Advocacy for the Inclusion of Youth – Equipment & Supplies for Disability Education – $4,400 award

12. Erie Homes for Children & Adults – Project First Step – Doula Services – $10,000 award

13. ErieKids Inc. – High Definition Video/Audio Equipment – $10,000 award

14. ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum – Interactive Science Classes – $8,000 award

15. Foundation for Free Enterprise Education – PA Free Enterprise Week 2009 – $5,000 award

16. Greater Erie Youth Symphony Orchestra – Arts in Education for Erie School Children – $8,000 award

17. Hispanic American Council – Classroom Furniture – $12,730 award

18. Hooked on Books – Hooked on Families Project – $950 award

19. Junior Achievement of Western PA Inc. – Financial Literacy for Erie & Wattsburg Students

20. National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. – Afterschool Programs – $5,000 award

21. & 22. Ophelia Project – Cyberbulling Project (Phase II) – $2,000 award; Relationships are Pathways to Success – $2,500 award

23. PA Council on Economic Education – Stock Market Game in Erie County Schools – $5,000 award

24. Perseus House – Vehicle Purchase for Residential Programs – $9,000 award

25. & 26. Regional Science Consortium at TREC – Presque Isle Coyote Documentary Film & Education – $5,000 award; Storage for Natural History Museum – $3,000 award

27. Rice Avenue Community Public Library – Storage Expansion – $2,000 award

28. Royal Family Kids Camp – Camp Scholarship for Foster Youths – $8,500 award

29. Union City Family Center – Facility Renovations – $8,918 award

30. Urban Erie Community Development Corp. – Walking in Black History Project – $7,500 award

31. YMCA (Glenwood Branch) – Early Learning Center – $10,000 award

EMERGENCY GRANTS

1. Erie Center on Health & Aging – HVAC Repair – $17,031 award

2. Erie County Historical Society & Museums – Fire Fighters Museum Collection Documenting – $15,000 award

3. JFK Center – Telephone System Replacement – $9,166