$300,000 in grants awarded

The Lake County Community Foundation handed out $300,000 in grants recently to nonprofit organizations helping people in the county.

"This was the Foundation's largest annual grant-making since its inception in 2003," John Anderson, foundation chair, stated in a release to the media. "The awards will contribute to the efforts of charitable organizations providing education, health care, human services and economic development within Lake County."

At the event, held at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, 22 grants were handed out.

The foundation says it has awarded or facilitated 71 grants totaling more than $1 million in the last four years to 28 organizations.

Thirteen organizations were given competitive grants from $5,000 to $25,000.

Four groups got REACH grants of $20,000 to $25,000. Those grants can be renewed over three years if the organizations make progress in reaching their goals.

Groups awarded grants include the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County, the Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault, PADS Crisis Services, Catholic Charities, the Youth Conservation Corps and many more.

The Lake County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Chicago Community Trust, which awards grants to organizations seeking to "improve the lives of people in metropolitan Chicago," according to the foundation.

More information about the Lake County Community Trust and applications for grants are available at www.lakecountycf.org or by calling (847) 775-1059.