MOUNTAIN AREA — For many, this is a season of giving. In the busy days leading up to Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 25, we invite readers to join in celebrating twelve local nonprofits and the people behind them who are making a difference.
For our fifth day, we look at the Mariposa Community Foundation, an organization that helps others to help us.
Day #5 Mariposa Community Foundation
- What is it? The Mariposa Community Foundation is a philanthropic organization that, for the last two years, has given out Community Enrichment Grants to enhance and broaden services that local nonprofit organizations are providing to the community. Donations, including legacy gifts, can be made to the Foundation with direction on where the funds are allocated. In other words, people can suggest where they want the money to go and, generally speaking, the Foundation is able to accommodate requests.
- Who’s behind it? Marilyn Saunders is currently President of the Board of the Mariposa Community Foundation. Dane Carlson, director of the Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce, sits on the Board. See the website for more information. The Mariposa Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
- Why we love it. Last week, the Foundation awarded grants to Mariposa Community Radio broadcasting at 98.5, KRYZ to help purchase a new transmitter. They gave a check to the Mariposa Academic Boosters Club, a parent group supporting Mariposa High School with matching funds to develop a stand-alone website. They made a generous contribution to the Mariposa Museum and History Center with matching funds to update and curate their Native American artifact exhibit, including protection for their increasingly valuable basket collection. Finally, an award was made to the Sierra Foothill Conservancy in support of their local hiking and classes program. Grants were available for amounts up to $1,000 each, and the Foundation was able to fund each application for the amount requested, though not all grant applications requested the full $1,000.
On December 7, 2016 Yosemite Bank Vice President, Matt Foraker, presented a donation from the bank to Dane Carlson, Board Member of the Mariposa Community Foundation. This donation is directed to the Community Enrichment Grant Fund. Yosemite Bank and the Foundation encourage donors to match funds that, in turn, are offered to local non profit organizations during the annual grant cycle.
