Springdale, AR— In the first quarter of 2004 Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation (NWACF) adds six more funds for a total of 75.

New funds include: Fox Family Fund and James and Susan von Gremp Fund, both donor advised funds; KidCare, an agency endowment fund; Blue Bombers Fund and Montessori Scholarship Fund, non-endowed funds; and the Janice Hocker Rushing Scholarship Fund.

Tom Frentz, a communication professor at the University of Arkansas established the Janice Hocker Rushing Scholarship Fund to honor his late wife who was well known for her numerous published works. The Fund will award a scholarship next year to a graduate student who is an active member in the Southern States Communication Association.

NWACF Board approved 19 grants at their April 16 meeting for $109,600 from several donor advised funds within the Foundation. NWACF has made 31 grants for $189,525 in 2004. Northwest Medical Center Auxiliary Fund, a donor advised fund at NWACF, recommended four grants for $33,000 for the following organizations:

• Arkansas Special Olympics $5000 for their summer camp program
• HOPE, Inc. $4,200 for counseling stipends and to conduct a needs assessment
• KidCare $15,000 for three revenue generating projects
• Seven Hills Homeless Shelter $8,800 for expansion of traditional housing

The following organizations received funding with recommendations from several other donor advised funds:

• American Heart Association, Washington County - $100
• American Red Cross, Northwest Arkansas Chapter - $100
• Grace Episcopal Church - $22,000
• Har-Ber School of Nursing - $1,000
• Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter - $10,100
• Northwest Arkansas for Nurses - $11,000
• Ozark Guidance - $10,000
• Rogers Public Library - $100
• Seven Hills Homeless Shelter - $1,000
• Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Washington County- $10,000

Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation is a public charity whose mission is to connect donors to their charitable passions. NWACF was formed in 1999 and has given out almost $2.8 million dollars in grants while their endowment nears $6.2 million. The Foundation is a member of the Council on Foundations and has met all national standards for governance and accountability. For more information on NWACF, go to their website at www.nwacommunityfoundation.org or contact their office at 479.361.4624.