(Indianapolis) - The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust presented $2,478,000 in grants to 21 Indiana charities Wednesday, March 20, 2002. More than 70 guests representing the nonprofit organizations attended the check presentation at The Center for Agricultural Science & Heritage-also known as The BARN, 1201 E. 38th Street (38th Street and Coliseum Ave.).

"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 $8,000 to $500,000 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 $30,185,818.40 to 208 nonprofit organizations in Indiana.

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 Indiana 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 Hoosiers," 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 Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Ivy Tech State College, Central Indiana Campus.

Each year the Trust is sponsoring five students at IUPUI and 12 students at the Ivy Tech. The first cohort of 17 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 Dec. 31, 2001.

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.