THE ARTHUR M. BLANK FOUNDATION
AWARDS $465,000 IN GRANTS IN MARICOPA COUNTY
Grants Invest in Youth, Education and Arts Initiatives
ATLANTA, June 18, 2003 -- The Arthur M. Blank
Family Foundation has approved 10 grants totaling $465,000 to nonprofit
organizations in Maricopa County, Arizona, to create educational opportunities
for underserved youth, sustain the arts and support community collaboration.
The Blank Family Foundation seeks to be a
catalyst for positive social change. It awards funding primarily
in four geographic areas:
Georgia;
Maricopa County, Arizona;
coastal
South Carolina;
and Park and
Gallatin Counties
in
Montana, under the auspices
of the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch Fund.
"This community is my home and our family
is committed to
Maricopa County,"
said Michael Blank, Board Associate of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
"It's a privilege to support the work of our nonprofit partners who
improve the quality of life in and around
Phoenix."
Recently approved grants in
Arizona
include:
- Rosie's House, Phoenix,
Ariz.; $50,000 to support the music
program.
- Special Olympics Arizona, Phoenix,
Ariz.; $45,000 for outreach activities.
- Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix,
Ariz.; $40,000 to support the After-School
Playhouse at Lowell Elementary
School.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix,
Phoenix, Ariz.; $75,000 to support the Education Enhancement program.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Scottsdale, Scottsdale,
Ariz.; $45,000 to support the SMART
Girls program.
- Kids Voting Arizona, Phoenix,
Ariz.; $25,000 to support after-school
programs in Maricopa County.
- Planned Parenthood of Central and Northern Arizona,
Phoenix, Ariz.;
$20,000 to support the Positive Force Players program.
- Teach For America/Phoenix, Phoenix,
Ariz.; $75,000 to support Teach
For America corps members serving in Maricopa County schools.
- Institute of Cultural Affairs, Phoenix,
Ariz.; $40,000 to collaborate with
Kids Voting Arizona to organize community youth forums in Maricopa
County.
- Arizona
Community Foundation, Phoenix,
Ariz.; $50,000 to support the development
of a nonprofit resource center in Arizona
Michael Blank's brother, Arthur M. Blank,
founded The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in 1995 to share his civic
values and the joy of giving with his family. Since that time, the
Foundation has awarded more than $100 million in grants to support youth
development and other community causes.
Arthur M. Blank co-founded The Home Depot,
the world's largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from
the company as co-chairman in 2001. He is owner and CEO of the Atlanta
Falcons.
