Staff Report
Gainesville —
Cooke County United Way officials are en route to announcing recipients of the 2012 Legacy Grant, made possible by an endowment locally established during the past decade.
Executive Director Angie Hare said the United Way’s allocation committee is expected to announce recipients during mid-February following an application deadline of Dec. 7.
More than 20 parties applied for grant funding, she said, and are currently under consideration.
“The grant requests far exceeded the money we had available,” Hare said Monday. “But that’s always the case, and it never hurts to ask.”
She added that the available allocation amount is a five-figure sum that will be awarded as a lump sum — or in portions — to the applicant or applicants who best meet the funding criteria. Hare also explained that the grant program is separate from the annual Cooke County United Way fundraising campaign that benefits local outreach agencies, though some of those agencies may also qualify as Legacy Grant applicants.
“It must benefit residents of Cooke County, with special interest given to the elderly and children regarding health and or education,” she said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re meeting the criteria.”
The Cooke County United Way Legacy Grant Program is funded through the Endowment and Legacy Charitable Giving Program of Cooke County United Way. Funding criteria includes a requirement that the agency provides health and human services in Cooke County, Texas; the agency serves youth and/or seniors providing assistance to underprivileged persons for their education, health and well-being; and the agency must meet the Cooke County United Way Agency Eligibility Policy.
The Legacy Program was established by a bequest gift made by Leo and Mabel Scott. Cooke County United Way has established an Endowment and Legacy Charitable Giving Program and has been honored to receive gifts from other community minded residents. Their “legacy” continues through awarded grants and used to benefit the community. These funds are kept separate from campaign or any other funding streams of United Way and are distributed based on the restrictions provided by the Scotts.
“The people who gave us the money are entrusting us to follow their wishes and we have been very good stewards,” Hare said Monday.
