(Indianapolis) - The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust presented $1,494,500 in grants to 19 Indiana charities Thursday, November 14. More than 70 guests representing the nonprofit organizations attended the check presentation at the Indiana State Museum, 650 West Washington Street.

"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 $5,000 to $250,000 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 third funding round for the year 2002. Since the Trust began making grants in 1998, it has committed $35,776,730 to 237 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 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, Indianapolis Campus.

Each year the Trust is sponsoring a new cohort of five students at IUPUI and 12 students at Ivy Tech. The second cohort of 17 Nina Scholars began classes in the fall 2002 semester. More information about the Nina Scholars program may be found on the Trust's website.

The Trust also makes grants in Arizona and had approximately $300 million in assets as of August 31, 2002.

The next deadline for Preliminary Applications is Jan. 15, 2003.

Applications may be obtained by writing to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, 135 N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 1200, Indianapolis, IN 46204; or by calling 317-231-6075; or through the Application page on our web site.