Eureka Springs, AR - The Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation (NWACF) made their first grant to a Carroll County organization, Lane House in Eureka Springs on June 19, 2001. The grant for $5,000 marks the first foray out of Washington and Benton Counties for the Northwest Medical Center of Washington County
Auxiliary Fund who recommended this grant distribution from their fund established in NWACF. The NWACF directors then approved the grant formally at a board meeting on June 15.
The $5,000 grant for Lane House will help the organization to expand their Summer Youth Arts Program. These programs include a three week Parade Puppet Camp in June; a three week Theater Camp in July, followed by four performances and an all summer Artist Mentor Program. Classes have always been offered for free, or for a nominal fee. The program benefits the youth of Carroll County between the ages of 8 and 18 years old.
"It is indeed a great pleasure to be awarding our first grant for a Carroll County agency and particularly one that is as worthy as Lane House. We believe in the phrase on the front of our brochures, 'Toward a New Regionalism,' now truly reflects that. I feel confident that this grant marks the first of future grants for the future," explained Suzanne Ward, Executive Director of NWACF.
Jean Indorf, Chair of the Auxiliary Fund Grants Committee, concurred with Means's remarks.
"When we set up our fund with NWACF, we included all four counties in northwest Arkansas. Lane House is a remarkable program in Carroll County and we are so pleased to be able to recommend them for the first grant," said Indorf.
"This grant will help Lane House to continue offering programs to students who live in single parent households below the poverty level and cannot pay tuition. The benefit to the students is a creative option for the use of their time, working with caring adults, nurturing their creative abilities
and offering a safe environment to conduct these activities. We are indeed grateful to the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation and the NW Medical Center Auxiliary fund who recommended Lane House," stressed Mary Jo Rose, Executive Director of Lane House.
Lane House has served the youth of Eureka Springs and Carroll County for over seven years since its founding in 1993. This youth center for the arts was opened as the St. James Episcopal Church outreach program to the community. The organization became a separate legal entity in 1995 when it received its own letter of nonprofit incorporation.
In the seven years of its existence, Lane House has served over 500 young people. Programs include a school-year schedule of Monday through Friday, 3-8 p.m. and the summer program that just received the $5,000 grant to help with special classes and camps.
Current classes include art, music, theater, creative writing and a life skills class called "The Art of Living." The community has been entertained for over six years with numerous theatrical productions, parades, art shows, music concerts, and poetry readings by the children. Lane House serves over 70 students per week, with another twelve alumni who still participate in the programs and mentor younger students.
The Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation helps nonprofit agencies in northwest Arkansas. It was founded in 1998 as the Community Foundation of Bentonville/Bella Vista and was expanded to include Washington, Benton, Madison and Carroll Counties. NWACF also serves as the lead public foundation operated in connection with CommunityCare Foundation. NWACF is a publicly-supported, grant-making charity structured as a group of endowed funds. Because of its relationship with CommunityCare Foundation, NWACF is able to offer other communities the opportunity to set up endowed funds to make grants while utilizing the staff of NWACF.
