Fourteen 501(c(3) organizations submitted funding requests this year for the Patagonia Regional Community Fund (PRCF) grant cycle. Twelve came from local groups and two from nonprofits outside eastern Santa Cruz County. With total requests nearly exceeding $50,000 and just under $23,000 available for funding, the PRCF steering committee and this year’s guests from the community had the challenging task of deciding which grants to make in full, which to partially fund, and which to turn down.
After rating individually, followed by several hours of discussion and consideration by the full group, the following grants were awarded:
Family Healthcare Amigos to complete the concrete ramp, iron railings, and powder coat the railings on the sidewalk, and to help fund the remodel of the bathroom in their new offices and store to make it handicapped-accessible.
Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center to help with the purchase of supplies and adult expertise so they can create valuable and enjoyable activities for youth in the summer months.
Patagonia Creative Arts Association to purchase specialized equipment and software to make it possible to transmit programs to Wi-Fi enabled hearing aids. This will allow them to expand their existing theater programming to the hearing-impaired population.
Mat Bevel Company to hire student videographers to shoot on-location at Patagonia Public Schools, to provide funds for a teacher to finalize lesson plans and a professional to convert creativity tests into computer lessons.
Friends of the Patagonia Pool to assist in their goal of keeping the public pool open, covering reasonable expenses for the 2020 season, and help in facilitation of a new management agreement for the pool.
Patagonia Museum to help with the purchase of materials and cost of labor in the construction and installation of an ADA ramp.
Borderlands Restoration Network to train and hire Patagonia youth through the Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) program to install rainwater-harvesting cisterns at the Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center. Cisterns will support native pollinator and food gardens, planted and tended by Patagonia youth.
Deep Dirt Institute to help with teaching traditional adobe building. They will partner with an Americorps NCCC team to construct two adobe tiny houses. The local community will be invited to participate in workshops, tours, and presentations.
Arizona Trail Association, Inc. to help inspire students to become stewards of the land by providing meaningful outdoor expeditions, including transportation, experienced instructors, and healthy snacks.
Patagonia Community Radio – KPUP to purchase podcasting equipment, related materials, and labor to configure and install equipment at the studio. This will make it possible for remote live broadcasting by area students and community members.
The PRCF steering committee thanks this year’s dedicated community members who helped with the selection process, the nonprofit organizations who submitted requests for funding, and especially those people who believe in the betterment of this community by donating money to increase the funds available to grant.
If you would like to help, contributions can be made online at azfoundation.org/Patagonia or by sending a check made out to PRCF to ACF’s Southeast Arizona Regional Office at 400 W. Fry Blvd. Suite 6, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. The PRCF is affiliated with the Arizona Community Foundation and serves the needs of Patagonia, Sonoita, Elgin and Canelo residents.