(Phoenix)- The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust presented $1,781,300 in grants to 21 Arizona charities Thursday, March 14. More than 70 guests representing the nonprofit organizations attended the check presentation at the Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway.

"Today's grant recipients share a common thread of excellence in fulfilling their commitments to this community and state," said Harriet M. Ivey, president and chief executive officer of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. "Grants range from $20,000 to $300,000 and represent every area of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's program interests, which are helping people in need, protecting animals and nature and enriching community life," Ivey added.

This is the Trust's first funding round for the year 2002. Since the Trust began making grants in 1998, it has committed $28,453,403 to 213 nonprofit organizations in Arizona.

Nina Pulliam passed away in March of 1997. At her direction, upon her death, her assets were placed into an irrevocable charitable trust to support the causes she loved in her home states of Arizona and Indiana.

"Year 2002 marks our fifth year of a 50-year life for Trust operations. We will be a part of this community for 45 more years and in perpetuity through the legacy of your work that we are supporting today," Trustee Chairman Frank E. Russell stated to the Arizona agency representatives attending.

"The Trust's funding interests center around Nina's passions, continuing to support the things she loved and adding to the quality of life for all Arizonans," said Carol Peden Schatt, Trustee and niece of Mrs. Pulliam.

Trustee Nancy Russell updated the audience about the Trust's most recent initiative--the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program to underwrite scholarships for nontraditional college students at Arizona State University and Maricopa Community Colleges.

Each year the Trust is sponsoring eight students at ASU and 15 students at the Maricopa Community Colleges. The first cohort of 23 Nina Scholars began classes in the fall 2001 semester. Nina Scholars will be recruited on an annual basis. More information about the Nina Scholars program may be found on the Trust's web site www.ninapulliamtrust.org.
The Trust also makes grants in Indiana and had approximately $367 million in assets as of Decenber 31, 2001.
The next deadline for Preliminary Applications is May 15, 2002.
Applications may be obtained by visiting the Trust's web site www.ninapulliamtrust.org; by writing to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, 2201 E. Camelback Road, Suite 600-B, Phoenix, AZ 85016; or by calling 602-955-3000.

Applications may be obtained by writing to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, 2201 E. Camelback Road, Suite 600-B, Phoenix, AZ 85016; or by calling 602-955-3000; or through the Application page on our web site.