June 26, 2008 -- The Collierville Community Fund has announced $52,500 in grants to ten local organizations that contribute to the quality of life in the town. The grants are being made from Tennessee Community Enhancement Grants, which were awarded to the Collierville Community Fund through the efforts of state Senators Mark Norris (R) and Reginald Tate (D).
Recipients are: -- Collierville Arts Council - $14,400.00 to purchase and install lighting fixtures in the Harrell Theatre.
-- YMCA at Schilling Farms - $7,910 for the CATCH Kids Club to promote physical activity and healthy food choices and prevent tobacco use for children in grades K-5 who are enrolled in the YMCA at Schilling Farms before/after school program and summer day camp program.
-- The Biblical Resource Center and Museum - $6,120 to create a short video to help visitors better understand the exhibits. It will also be used to assist in promotional and fund-raising activities.
-- The Mulberry Festival - $5,000 sponsorship for the event, an arts and crafts festival being revived by community volunteers after a hiatus of several years.
-- PageRobbinsAdultDayCareCenter - $3,600 to educate retailers, restaurant operators, members of the local police, fire and ambulance organizations as well as individuals in the medical and health care professions about dementia. Teepa Snow, nationally recognized expert in dementia, will present the training.
-- Boy Scouts of America, Chickasaw Council- $3,000; $1,000 to recruit and train 100 new Collierville volunteers, and $2,000 to supply financial aid to Collierville families who need assistance sending their children to summer camps and other sponsored activities.
-- Leadership Collierville - $3,000 for funding Youth Leadership Collierville’s retreat for the 2008-09 class.
-- Collierville Literacy Council - $3,000 for computer stations in five study rooms, and $5,200 for renovation of existing space to create two new study rooms and an office for the director.
-- Collierville Police Department Special Citizens Volunteer Program - $770 to replace reflective sheeting on 75 Neighborhood Watch signs produced by the National Sheriffs’ Association.
-- Youth Villages - $500 to establish Safe Place sites in Collierville. Local businesses will be asked to hang the Safe Site logo in their windows and make brochures available to runaway, homeless and at-risk teens in Collierville. Training in initial help to teens will be provided to people at those sites.