Sonora Area Foundation Disperses Over $924,000 in 2006

Sonora, Ca — 2006 was a busy year for the Sonora Area Foundation.

Over $924,000 was given out to local groups and organizations through grants, scholarships and awards. Executive Director Mick Grimes says many of these were recently handed out during the 4th quarter of the year.

Grimes notes,The biggest one was a $200,000 matching fund grant to Summerville High School to complete its softball field improvements, and to build four new tennis courts.” The money will also help pay for a parking lot and other improvements. Grimes says,The grant is going to stretch out over two years so that they can have the opportunity to raise the funds to match up to the $200,000.”

The Summerville funding will come from the Irving J. Symons Foundation, which is one of the supporting organizations of the Sonora Area Foundation.

Also receiving matching funds is the community group looking to relocate the historic Jamestown Jail back to Jamestown. The group will receive up to $35,000.

Tuolumne General Hospital was given $13,500 to purchase new hospital beds or lifts for the long term care unit.

A-TCAA was given $26,500 to purchase a new food delivery van for the Jamestown food bank.

These are among a dozen that were approved for funding during the 4th quarter of 2006. The Sonora Area Foundation was established in 1990, and channels donor contributions to projects in Tuolumne County.

Written by BJ Hansen