The Clinton County Foundation Board of Trustees has awarded funds to 17 of the 24 non-profit agencies and organizations that applied for money given by DHL to assist non-profits following its announcement to end operations at the Wilmington Air Park.

The money was approved in the latest round of grant awards in which the foundation trustees considered applications for grants in the amount of $5,000 or less from the Wilmington/Clinton County Charity Assistance Fund established by DHL. A total of $32,000 was approved for disbursement among the 17 agencies.

The following agencies were approved for funding: 4-H Clubs of Highland County, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Clinton County Family and Children First Council, Clinton County Leadership Institute, Community Care Hospice, Community Service Center Food Bank, Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, Habitat for Humanity - Clinton County, Highland County Humane Society, Inter-Faith Assistance Association, New Vienna Senior Citizens, Peebles Church of Christ, Tecumseh Council Boy Scouts, Wilmington Area Humane Society, and the Wilmington Friends Meeting Emergency Assistance Program.

The next grant application cycle is tentatively scheduled for May 2010. Emergency grants will be considered by the foundation board at any time.

The foundation trustees denied a request from the Wilmington News Journal for additional information. They refused to provide details on how the applicants intend to use the DHL funds. They also refused to disclose information on the seven applications, including the intended use of DHL funds, that they turned down in this latest round of grant awards.

DHL officials agreed to donate $1 million to the community to assist non-profit organizations in anticipation of joblessness and other economic concerns resulting from the company’s decision to relocate from the air park. Following the announced gift to the community, DHL selected the Clinton County Foundation to be the steward of investment and disbursement of the fund.

Officers of the 2009 Board of Trustees of the Clinton County Foundation are: Randy Riley, president; Mike McCarty, vice president; Lori Williams, treasurer; and Leilani Popp, secretary.

Other trustees are Harry Brumbaugh, Bonnie DeBold, Shirley Haines, Bill Peelle, Lauren Raizk, Ron Rudduck, Christian Schock, Joni Streber and Kerm Zimmerman.