The Staples Community Foundation is actively engaged to develop and strengthen community resources and enhance the quality of life for individuals, families and organizations in the Staples community and area. As chair of the Staples Community Foundation, I would like to update you on some of our current projects.

Grant awards

Twice a year we make available funds or grant awards for local community projects under the areas of; strengthening youth and family, community appearance and community involvement and leadership.

Local non-profit organizations are eligible to apply to the grant committee. The grant applications are available on our website www.staplesfound.org or through our grant chair, Julie Nelson at 894-1399.

This fall, we will have available $3,000 for distribution and the deadline for submitting the grant applications is Sept. 15.

Community Awards

Celebration

On Thursday, Oct. 8, the Staples Community Foundation will be hosting the Annual Staples Community Awards Banquet. At that time we will be giving awards for; Citizen of the Year, Youth of the Year, Organization of the Year, Chairman's Award, Business of the Year and the Duane R. Lund Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The recipients of these awards are announced elsewhere in this issue of the Staples World. We encourage you to purchase tickets from Unity Bank, First International Bank and Trust, T Maxwell's, Staples World, City of Staples, Centennial Auditorium Box Office or any foundation board member.

Please come and join the community in recognition of these individuals, groups and organizations.

Meet the Candidate

Forum

The mayor and three council members will be elected to the Staples City Council in November. Three seats on the Staples Motley School Board will also be filled in November.

To help the community learn more about those people who choose to run for public office, the Staples Community Foundation will host a candidate forum Thursday, Oct. 15, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Staples Motley High School cafeteria. It will also be broadcast on local cable television on Channel 8.

Questions for the candidates will be taken from the audience and by telephone from those watching on television.

Fundraising

campaign

The Staples Community Foundation conducts an annual fundraising campaign in which funds can be placed in an endowment or non-endowment fund.

The endowment funds are placed in an account in which the interest is used each year for grants. These funds will be perpetually raising and earning money to be distributed for our community.

Non-endowment funds are funds in which the principal can be used for grants back to the community.

Starting in the spring of 2010, the Staples Community Foundation will be conducting an annual planned giving workshop to assist people with their options of how they can play a part in enhancing and growing the communities in which you live.

If you are interested in donating to the Staples Community Foundation or learning more about our programs, you can contact Mary Theurer, Wendy Schluender or me to request brochures and donation forms.

You can also get the information, as well as contact information for board members, on our website at www.staplesfound.org