Piper Trust Balances Strategic and Emergency Grantmaking

PHOENIX (January 22, 2009) - Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has awarded grants totaling $3.4 million, supporting both strategic projects in arts and culture, children and education and emergency grants providing food, shelter and medical services.

The emergency grants are part of the a $1 million Community Relief Grant program that Piper Trust launched last fall to support organizations that serve Maricopa County residents most in need.

"Everyone has been affected by the economic downturn, and Piper Trust is gratified to remain on track to fulfill our commitment of $26 million in grant payments for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009," said Judy Jolley Mohraz, Ph.D., president and CEO of Piper Trust.

"These grants are balanced between immediate support for organizations stretched to meet basic human needs and investments in longer term, planned programs within the community."

In the children's grantmaking area, Piper Trust awarded a $750,000 grant to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance for a capital campaign to expand food services, especially the Kids Café program. Crisis Nursery, Inc., received $600,000 for a new day-respite program for children whose families are in crisis.

Piper Trust awarded $400,000 to Science Foundation Arizona for personnel and program support; $200,000 to Expect More Arizona Fund to raise community awareness of the need to strengthen education; and $100,000 to the International Rescue Committee for a new interpreter program to serve refugee children and their families and produce earned income.

Two arts and culture grants focus on financial stability and building new audiences: Piper Trust awarded $200,000 to Ballet Arizona to support a challenge grant to increase the organization's cash operating reserve and $150,000 for a Valleywide Culture Pass program, developed by Phoenix Art Museum, to distribute free passes to a number of arts institutions through libraries.