PENDLETON — Open Hearts, Open Purses (OHOP), the South Madison Community Foundation’s women’s giving circle that supports local community projects, has narrowed its field for it annual $10,000 grant from nine applicants to two finalists, as it changes things up a little bit in its 15th year.
“The grant committee felt really good about those two applicants,” said Tammy Bowman, executive director of the community foundation, confirming that the committee usually chooses three finalists.
The two finalists — decided by the seven-member committee — are Pendleton Artists Society (PAS) and Pendleton Elementary School (PES).
The PAS project calls for the installation of four 8-by-10-foot durable metal frames on the outside of the eastern wall of Gallery 119, the home to PAS, located at 119 W. State St.
The frames will feature artwork, which will be changed periodically, that “will transform a stark pedestrian passageway into a dynamic and engaging space with vibrant and thought provoking artworks,” a community foundation synopsis states.
The PES project seeks to expand Sole Sisters and Band of Brothers, which is described in the community foundation summary as “an overwhelmingly successful pilot program designed to help elementary children embrace a healthy lifestyle.”
“Teacher stipends and supply fees enable third- through sixth-grade girls and boys to learn the benefits of exercise, healthy eating, and supportive friendships in an extracurricular setting. Community and upper grade mentors share talks on subjects like trying new things, creating a balanced life, positive attitude and perseverance. … PES would like to build on its own success and replicate the model in other schools.”
While having just two finalists is new, the two finalists are not.
In 2015, PAS received the OHOP grant to create children’s art programming in Gallery 119.
In 2018, PES received the OHOP grant to create an inclusive playground where children of varying abilities could play together.
Open Hearts, Open Purses funds its grants with annual membership donations. Women pay $100 to be OHOP members.
The first 100 membership fees fund the $10,000 grant, with additional fees funding other awards.
So far this year, OHOP has 152 members ($15,200), wity a June 10 deadline to join.
During a award night, finalists make a presentation and members get to vote for the winner. Members not present that evening will have the option to vote absentee via digital link.
Award night is set for 6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Crystal Coop, 3400 W. 53rd St., Anderson.
The foundation also plans to do something new at the event this year: Honor an individual who has made a difference in the non-profit community by making an OHOP endowment grant to an organization in that person’s name.
“We have identified somebody,” Bowman said, not revealing the person’s name but indicating it will be a posthumous award.
For more about OHOP or to become a member, contact Bowman at 765-778-8444 or tammy@southmadison
foundation.org, or visit southmadisonfoundation.org.
OHOP has awarded more than $200,000 in grants since it began in 2010.
