United Way of San Luis Obispo County brought the year to a successful close by awarding $80,000 in grants and awards to local health and human service programs that provide the community with a wide array of resources. As part of United Way’s annual Community Impact Fund grant process, more than 30 community volunteers reviewed 56 grant applications, requesting financial support to help meet the most pressing needs in San Luis Obispo County. After careful consideration, 20 grants totaling $75,000 were awarded in the areas of education, income and health. The United Way of San Luis Obispo County Innovation Award recognizes a local not-for-profit organization for inventive approaches and programs. The 2011 recipient is GLEANSLO, a program of the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County. Through a growing collaboration with farmers, health advocates, food providers, backyard gardeners, community volunteers and other nonprofit agencies, GLEANSLO harvests and donates produce gleanings to San Luis Obispo County’s food system.
The program exhibits characteristics that are creative in concept and addresses an important local need. The $5,000 award was made possible in 2011 by its founder, Don Maruska of Don Maruska & Company, Inc., and IQMS. “While we are hopeful that the economy is entering a period of recovery, we know not all individuals and families are back on their feet; we are always grateful for the opportunity to provide these grants to local nonprofit organizations, and know that the funds will be used to help our neighbors in need. Combined, these programs will touch thousands of lives of the men, women, children and families that live throughout San Luis Obispo County,” said Rick London, CEO of United Way of San Luis Obispo County. All grant and award recipients were recognized at United Way’s Annual Recognition Event on Wednesday, June 8, sponsored by Mission Community Bank. For more information about United Way of SLO County, Community Impact Fund grants or the Innovation Award, visit www.unitedwayslo.org or call (805) 541-1234. Donations for future Community Impact Fund grants can be sent to United Way of SLO County, P.O. Box 14309, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406. A complete list of Community Impact Fund grant awards is available on the United Way website at
http://www.unitedwayslo.org/ComImpacFund/GrantAwards/cif2011-2012.pdf A complete list of Innovation Award recipients is available on the United Way website at
http://www.unitedwayslo.org/specialFunding/Innovation_Award_recipients.pdf
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