The Moore County Community Foundation (MCCF) held its annual grants presentation celebration Aug. 7. More than $88,000 was distributed to 30 nonprofits in or serving Moore County (see recipient list below.)

This is a close knit community, and that’s reflected in the nonprofit sector. Old friends hugged and greeted each other in the warm reception area of the stately Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities in Southern Pines, where the reception is typically held.

Hugh Bingham, MCCF board president, welcomed grantees and guests to the annual grants presentation, calling it “the best thing we do all year.” (He was quick to note that another great event that the affiliate sponsors is the Moore County Man and Woman of the Year, plugging this year’s Oct. 16 date.)

Bingham then called on MCCF Grants Chair Peggy Sarvis, who told the group she was “humbled” to be in their presence. “I look around this room, and I see the people who make things happen in Moore County.” She recalled reading a variation of a familiar saying that fit the day: “Money can’t buy happiness, but generosity can.”

As is the custom at this annual event, all nonprofit grant recipients had a few minutes at the podium to describe programming and what was new at their organizations.

Dramatic statistics and amazing stories were shared:

• Elizabeth Bynum of the Autism Society of NC described a camp session held this summer where “lives were changed forever.”

• Ellen Fort of the NC Symphony noted that the group served 55,000 plus school children throughout the state each year, one of the largest (if not the largest) public school programs in the nation.

• Susan Ballou noted that Family Promise of Moore County was housing many full beds and teens this summer, but also ensuring that valuable experiences were being offered.

• Michael Cotten, local branch director of the Food Bank, said the local branch was working hard to meet the nutritional needs of 4,500 area children and youth who were food deprived.

• Caroline Eddy of the Boys and Girls Club said the organization served 909 kids in Moore County in afterschool and summer camp programs.

• Linda Gore of the Moore County Cooperative Extension 4-H group shared news of opportunities their youth had enjoyed throughout the state, including the excitement of spending the night in an aquarium!

Many commented that valuable information was gleaned from these brief acceptance speeches.  Important connections were made after the event, as nonprofit leaders made pledges to share resources or meet soon to see how partnerships could be forged to serve more or better. Susie Buchanan with St. Joseph’s of the Pines said a conversation with Julie Talbert of MedAssist meant that they would no longer have to purchase over-the-counter medications and that MedAssist could better reach those in need by sharing their van transportation.  First Tee found out about other endowments administered by the Foundation that could boost their programming.  And so the conversations went.

MCCF grantees this year from both the affiliate’s unrestricted fund and the Roffe endowment were:

American Red Cross – Moore County
Arts Council of Moore County
Boys & Girls Club of the Sandhills
Carolina Performing Arts Center
Communities In Schools of Moore Co.
Drug Free Moore County
First Tee Chapter of the Sandhills
Friends of Weymouth, Inc.
Girl Scouts NC Coastal Pines, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity.
Moore County Literacy Council
Moore County Schools
North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc.
North Carolina Theatre Conference
Moore Free Clinic
Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC
Friend to Friend
Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care
MANNA
NC MedAssist
N.C. Symphony
First Health of the Carolinas Dental Care
Prancing Horse, Inc.
Pretty In Pink Foundation
Autism Society of NC
Prevent Blindness NC
Family Promise of Moore County
Sandhills Children Center
St. Joseph of the Pines – We can do Moore
Northern Moore Family Resource Center, Inc.