Foundations Dole Out $55,000 In First Quarter Grants

Sonora, CA — The Sonora Area Foundation and the Irving J. Symons Foundation have filled first quarter grant requests of $55,000 for four Tuolumne County non-profits.

The 27 year old Sierra Repertory Theatre gained the lion´s share of the grant money receiving a check for $30,000. Managing Director and Co-Founder Sara Jones says the funds will be used to complete a three-year plan with staff and board that includes continued planning for a new facility in downtown Sonora.

In addition the funding will be utilized to send Jones to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland to study strategic marketing techniques for a destination theatre. 66 percent of S.R.T.´s audience originates from outside the county. Jones will also attend a two-week fellowship program (National Arts Strategies) at Stanford University June 24-July 6. The grant will cover 50 percent of the tuition.

The WATCH Resources program received a grant of $12,500 to develop the organization´s first strategic plan. The nonprofit agency´s board of directors will work with a consultant to collect information, set long-range goals and have a written plan completed by mid-year.

$7,500 has been granted the fledging Sonora Children´s Theatre to help in the startup of an operation that has been greeted with open arms by the community. Executive Director Bonnie Cerruti says the first session was filled and there are more than 100 children ready to begin the second session this summer.

The Twain Harte Community Services District received a $5,000 grant to assist with resurfacing the city´s three public tennis courts.

Written by Bill Johnson