TRENTON – The Jones County Community Foundation (JCCF) completed its fourth grant cycle since its founding by presenting two grants at the Media Center of Jones Middle School to support local nonprofit organizations that are enhancing the vitality of our community from its Jones County Charitable Giving Fund.

The presentations were made as part of Jones County Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bracy’s Principals and Directors meeting.

This year one of the awards went to the National Society to Prevent Blindness to support vision screening within the Jones County Public School System.  A second grant was awarded to the Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines, to assist in the purchase of supplies and materials in support of the Jones County Girl Scout Outreach Program which operates throughout the Jones County Public School System.

“We wanted to present grants this year that are focused on helping our youth,” stated Chris Henderson, President of JCCF.  “We are supporting those organizations that will enhance the quality of life for the children throughout Jones County.”

Though unable to attend the presentation ceremony, the NC Prevent Blindness sent a statement to be read that expressed their appreciation for the grant and how they are looking forward to working with the school system in Jones County to conduct a vision screening program called “Star Pupil’s” to allow for early detection of vision problems in our school age children.

The Girl Scouts were on hand to receive their grant and express their appreciation for the funding that will assist with their program in Jones County.

“We are happy to provide this service to the young women in Jones County,” said Grazia Mostella, Membership Executive for Jones County.  “We are more than cookies, camping, and crafts,” she added.  “We operate in each school helping girls with leadership, learning technology, and financial literacy.”

Also on hand to represent the Girls Scouts was former Jones County resident Tonya Koonce-Daniels.  She is a graduate of Jones Senior High School, class of 1982, and a 1987 graduate of the UNC.  Koonce-Daniel is currently the Membership Director of Northeast Raleigh, Knightdale, Weldon, and Zebulon.  She is the daughter of Loretta and Clifton (now deceased) and grew up in the Hargett Crossroads area of the county.

“I am thrilled to be here,” Koonce-Daniels stated.  “I am so pleased to see the foundation helping Girls Scouts!”

JCCF established the Jones County Charitable Giving Fund in 2008, with the help of Dr. Neil C. Bender, the original donor, to respond to changing community needs and to enhance the quality of community life in Jones County through annual grants to local nonprofit organization.

These grants were made possible by the building of an endowment fund that strictly supports Jones County, the Jones County Charitable Giving Fund.

Past JCCF grant recipients have included: the Coastal Women’s Shelter Client Assistance Fund for Jones County Residents(2009 and 2011), the Salvation Army Maysville Outreach Center’s sponsorship of the N.C. Baptist Men’s Dental Bus (2010), the Jones County Historical Society for the printing of an architectural history of Jones County (2010), the American Cancer Society – Jones County Relay for Life(2009 and 2010), the Neuse Regional Library’s Big Read Program in Jones County (2009), and the Jones County Cooperative Extension, 4-H job mentoring program at Jones Middle School (2009).

Currently two other funds that support Jones County are administered by NCCF.  The Frost Park Endowment which supports Maysville’s town park and the Rotary Club of Pollocksville Scholarship fund which provides scholarships to graduating Jones Senior High School seniors pursuing higher education at an accredited college, university, or community college.

Donations can be made online to the Jones County Community Foundation or to any of the Foundations funds under the “Giving” tab.