Press Release

$1,262,000 awarded to 21 Arizona organizations

November 18, 2010

(Phoenix) — The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust announced $1,262,000 in grants to 21 Arizona nonprofit organizations (detailed descriptions)Thursday, November 18. Grant recipients gathered at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society / Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E. Culver Street, at 3 p.m. for an hour-long reception with the Trust’s Trustees, staff and representatives from grantee organizations.

With $978,000 in grants awarded to organizations assisting families in crisis, supporting housing and employment programs, enhancing healthcare services, and providing educational opportunities for youth, the Trust continues to fulfill a significant community role during these challenging economic times,” said Edmund H. Portnoy, Ph.D., Arizona grants programs director for the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

“In addition, the Trust’s environmental initiative continues to support protection and restoration efforts throughout Arizona,” Portnoy stated.

“In response to these difficult times, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has remained strong in its support of organizations on the front line, providing basic human services to families and individuals in the greatest need,” added Harriet M. Ivey, Trust president and CEO.

“The grants we are distributing today represent the Trust’s goal of responding to alleviate immediate human needs, collaborating to leverage organizational impact and investing over the longer horizon to change lives, as well as protect Arizona’s wildlands and animals,” Ivey added.

In this third and final round of grants for 2010, the Trust awarded $708,000 to organizations providing medical and social services for victims of domestic violence, support for abused and neglected girls, foster care youth job training, medical and dental services for underinsured populations, housing support for young mothers and families moving out of transitional housing, and programs assisting families with children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Grantees include Arizona Dental Foundation, Bridging AZ Furniture Bank, Inc., Florence Crittenton, District Medical Group, Dress for Success Phoenix, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Maggie’s Place, Inc., Mission of Mercy, Human Services Campus, National Advocacy & Training Network, Ryan House, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.

The Trust continues its support of educational programs from kindergarten through grade 12 and outreach to underserved youth. Arizona Association for Environmental Education, Audubon Arizona, College Depot Program at the Burton Barr Central Library, and Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network received $270,000 in grants.

The Trust awarded $246,000 to environmental protection, conservation and restoration efforts across Arizona. Arizona Land and Water Trust, Conservation Lands Foundation, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, and The Wilderness Society received grants.

First-time Trust recipient, Lost Our Home Pet Foundation, Inc., will expand rescue and adoption programs for abandoned and displaced dogs in Maricopa County with its $38,000 grant.

“For a second year the Trust continued its moratorium on capital campaign funding, allowing us to maintain significant levels of Trust support to organizations on the front line providing assistance to those in our community in the greatest need,” Trust Chairman Frank E. Russell stated.

“These are extraordinary times. And, our grantees are doing an exceptional job of serving their communities and furthering Nina Pulliam’s legacy in her hometown through their daily work and ongoing commitments to their life-changing missions,” Russell added.

For 2010, the Trust has awarded 119 grants totaling $5.5 million to benefit Arizona residents. Since the Trust began its grantmaking in 1998, it has awarded more than $89.6 million to 401 Arizona nonprofit organizations.

The Trust also makes grants in Indianapolis and as of September 30, 2010, had assets of approximately $338.5 million. Visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org for more information about the Trust and its programs.