ANNA — The Village of Anna Endowment Fund is accepting applications for grants.

Eligible applicants must be charitable, educational or benevolent organizations whose activities are conducted within the village of Anna.

The fund was established in 1995 as a result of a $250,000 donation by the Honda of America Anna Engine Plant. This money has been invested for the purpose of generating income which will be utilized to benefit village residents. Since its inception, the fund has distributed nearly $200,000 in grant monies for various projects within the village.

A distribution committee of five residents representing various organizations in the village manages the fund and distributes income generated by the fund. The current members are Karen Morris, Dan Bensman, Rodney Naseman, Jenni Shoffner and Jessica Rickert.

The fund is a nonprofit, charitable organization which has been established as a component fund of the Troy Foundation. The purpose of the fund is to enhance the quality of life of village of Anna residents through education, charity, and benevolence and to lessen the burdens of government.

Grant-making policy and specific grant decisions are made by the Distribution Committee at the beginning of each calendar year. The size and number of grant awards are directly related to the amount of income available each year, the applications received and the discretion of the Distribution Committee.

Grants are awarded on the basis of the project’s ability to present a unique and unduplicated opportunity for the village, to support established organizations for special purposes and to generate matching funds. The grants support endeavors that encourage more efficient use of resources and promote coordination, cooperation and sharing among organizations and the elimination of duplicated services; test or demonstrate new approaches and techniques in the solution of important problems within the village; could not be accomplished with other sources of support; promote volunteer participation and citizen involvement in community affairs within the village; and strengthen nonprofit agencies and institutions by reducing operating cost, increasing public financial support and/or improving internal management.

Grant requests should be submitted in writing on an application form which is available from the Distribution Committee.

Organizations interested in applying for a grant should call 394-7469. The deadline for submitting applications is Jan. 25.

Persons interested in making donations to the principal of the fund should write to P.O. Box 522, Anna, OH 45302.