by Gary Lowder

This year's Grants Committee evaluators considered 42 Grants, with requests totaling $384,850.00. Our Treasurer, Bill Kort, reports that the Foundation has available approximately $221,000 for funding of the Grant requests. Obviously, the Board has its work cut out for it in determining which are impact grants, which are renewal grants, and which are new applications worthy of our funds. There are grant requests from some 31 states or countries--one as far away as Nepal. Our duty will be to focus on those organizations that are most dependent on our funds for their success.

My Committee and I wish to express our thanks to Executive Director Fred Halik for his organization of the grant requests and providing them to the evaluators. Also, thanks to the members of the Committee who carefully evaluated the applications and provided comments regarding the worthiness of the requests and their adherence to our guidelines: Drs. Kevin Roach, Mike Perpich, Carl Lundgren, Nick Saccone, Larry Barrett, and Jim Long, all of whom provided excellent, insightful evaluations.

We also appreciate the guidance and encouragement of our President David Campbell, who noted that, "There are some fantastic grant applications this year."

The final decisions will be made by the entire Board in San Francisco.