The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri has awarded two $3,000 grants to support two initiatives in Carthage: “Striving to Meet the Childcare Needs of Hancock County” and “Expanding & Enhancing Emergency Preparedness in Hancock County.” These grants will fund Willow Grove Childcare & Learning Center and implement a new state-of-the-art mass emergency notification system at Memorial Hospital.
The first grant, “Striving to Meet the Childcare Needs of Hancock County,” will support the Willow Grove Childcare & Learning Center, which has evolved to meet the community’s changing needs. Initially designed to accept children up to 12 years of age, the center has adapted to the increased demand for services for younger age groups. With the recent expansion of the infant and toddler rooms, this grant will be used to purchase additional essential small equipment and supplies to fulfill the needs of these new classrooms, ensuring that Willow Grove continues to provide high-quality care to Hancock County families.
The second grant, “Expanding & Enhancing Emergency Preparedness in Hancock County,” will implement a cutting-edge mass emergency notification system that will be used at Memorial Hospital. This new system is designed to address the limitations of the current communication method. Unlike traditional systems that are better suited for non-emergent notifications, this state-of-the-art technology will streamline communication, significantly improving response times during critical situations. The new system will enable more efficient communication by sending targeted messages to specific groups, improving the ability to communicate quickly and efficiently with staff and community members during emergencies, such as natural disasters, internal or external threats, or other critical events.
The Community Grant program through the Community Foundation strives to strengthen nonprofit programs that enhance the quality of life throughout the region. Funding for these Community Grants is made possible through earnings from endowment funds. The Community Foundation invests and grows these funds, and each year, a portion of the fund’s earnings are distributed as grants. Community Endowment Funds support grants for arts, culture, community betterment, education, health, and human services in the Community Foundation’s 12-county service area.
Pictured from left to right: Catherine Meckes, CEO of Community Foundation; Bill Durall, Secretary of the Board and Grant Committee Chairman of Community Foundation; Shelly Fox, Grant Administrator at Memorial Hospital; and Kent Embree, Program Officer of Community Foundation
