The poor got richer Friday afternoon at the Austin Public Library.

Non-profit agencies needing money for important programs and services got it.

Nearly $20,000 in grant awards was donated to local organizations Friday by the Austin Area Foundation (AAF).

Award recipients and members of the AAF gathered in the large meeting room at Austin Public Library for the disbursement of funds.

“This is only the second year that the young AAF has awarded grants based on applications from local organizations,” Jeanne Sheehan, an AAF board member, explained. “The funds dispersed come to the grant applicants from two different sources: The discretionary funds of the AAF and from a private donor who wishes to remain un-named.”

Peg Benzkofer, a member of the selection committee, handed out the checks to the grateful recipients.

Grants awarded were as follows:

Discretionary Fund

$900 Mower County Chapter of the American Red Cross – Training for babysitters; $1,200 Austin Symphony Orchestra – general support; $2,000 Mower County Humane Society – Flooring; $1,200 Woodson Kindergarten Center – Books and other materials; $500 Historic Paramount Theatre – Tweaksters program; $1,199 Mower County Historical Society – Computer System.

Donor designated funds being presented: $2,000 Mower County Chapter American Red Cross; $2,000 Salvation Army Austin Corps; $1,000 Austin Medical Center Foundation; $1,000 Meals on Wheels; $1,000 Hormel Historic Home; $1,000 Austin Public Library; $1,000 Freeborn/Mower Habitat for Humanity; $3,204 Austin Legacy Endowment Fund.

The recipients expressed their appreciation to the AAF representatives for the allocations.

According to Sheehan, the AAF plans to host a spring 2009 get-together for the agencies and to learn more how they will spend the money they received.

The Austin Area Foundation is a 501C-3 corporation and contributions to the foundation are tax deductible.

The mission of the Austin Area Foundation is to enhance the community through charitable giving.

For more information on the AAF, contact Mike Ruzek at 434-7494.