Published: May 09, 2008 11:37 am            

Edmond Women’s Club awards $85,000 in grants

EDMOND — The Edmond Women’s Club gave grants to 22 organizations totaling $85,689 at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

“It’s more than we were able to give last year,” said Dawn Wood, grant committee chairwoman.

She said the majority of the funds were raised through their charity ball and their cookbook sales.

“Basically, we raise money to give it back to Edmond,” Wood said. “That’s the whole purpose of Edmond Women’s Club.”

The largest grant, $10,000, was awarded to UR Special Ministries to help purchase shoes and coats for boys. Darsi Graham, board member, said the program has grown by 13 percent since last year.

“We are a self esteem program. Our whole purpose is to make the boys feel good about themselves. The single most important item to those boys is having cool shoes,” Graham said.

Historically, EWC has helped UR Special purchase shoes but this is the first year they also will help purchase coats.

EWC awarded Edmond Mobile Wheels a $9,000 grant to help with food costs. Teresa Hoehner, director, said the program began 35 years ago and delivered six meals a day. The program now delivers 125 meals a day. Hoehner said they are finding that participants in their program are having more financial difficulties each year. She said many people have an annual income of $8,000-$10,000.

Hoehner said Mobile Meals has eight routes with eight to 12 people on each, but hope to add a ninth route.

The Edmond Scouts received a grant for $4,500.

“It will help fund summer camp, camping experiences and uniforms,” said Colleen Bicket, secretary treasurer for Edmond Scout Benevolence Committee.

She said this is the first year they have been fully funded by the EWC. Bicket said they normally submit an application for $4,500 but the most they have ever received was about $3,200.

As gas prices sky rocket, Bicket said many scout leaders and parents have struggled financially when it’s time to take out-of-town camping trips.

“The cost to getting to camp is increasing,” she said.



2008 Edmond Women’s Club grants

The following is a listing of all Edmond Women’s Club grant winners:

Birth Choice of Oklahoma, $1,000

Boys Ranch Town, $4,128

Citizens Caring for Children, $7,000

Coffee Creek Riding Center, $1,750

Edmond Community Chorale, $3,600

Edmond Family Counseling, $6,797

Edmond Mobile Meals, $9,000

Edmond Scout Benevolence, $4,500

Edmond Senior Center, $1,592

Fellowship of Christian Athletes, $1,950

Fine Arts Institute, $3,900

Girl Scouts-Redland Council, $6,545

HOPE Center, $2,636

Mercy Hospice, $1,700

Oklahoma Arts Institute, $4,000

Oklahoma Christian Apartments, $1,600

Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled, $2,849

Parents Helping Parents, $1,001

Summerstock, $5,000

UCO-Arts for All Program, $4,142

UCO-Sport Performance Center, $1,000

UR Special Ministries, $10,000

        

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