The Frances Abbot Burton Powers Fund for support of the Town of Henderson has awarded its second round of grants, according to Preston Powers, Mrs. Powers’ husband.

This year’s nonprofit recipients include:

• $8,500 to the Henderson Family YMCA for pool roof replacement, contributing to the most urgent need the organization is currently facing.
• $8,500 to the Boys & Girls Club of North Central North Carolina for Project Learn at the Henderson unit, a program designed to enhance the afterschool environment.

These organizations were recognized at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 1 at the CPA firm of Phillips, Dorsey, Thomas, Waters & Brafford, P.A where Powers was on hand to pass out checks and share stories of Frances Powers’ life.

“If there were more people like Frances in the world, there wouldn’t be any wars and everybody would get along,” Powers remarked. “She loved everybody, and I’m especially grateful she loved me.”

“We had a lot of applications this year, and we went through them carefully,” Powers said. “Then we went through them again, thinking about what Frances would have picked. That right there is an honor in itself.”

Frances Abbot Burton Powers was a native of Henderson. When she passed away in 2012, many said that she truly never met a stranger and anyone fortunate enough to come in contact with her could not help but be caught up in her enthusiasm and positive outlook on life. The endowment set up in her memory will continue to make grant funds available in the summer for government entities and nonprofit organizations that benefit the Town of Henderson and have a physical location in Henderson.

For further information, contact NCCF Regional Associate Katie Crumpler at kcrumpler@nccommunityfoundation.org or 919-256-6914.