VIDEO: Charitable Organizations Get A Financial Boost

By Tom Eble

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Six more charitable organizations will make ten total in Starkville will be getting extra help through SOAR grant money.

SOAR, which stands for Starkville Oktibbeha Achieving Results, is an affiliate of the CREATE foundation.

The group is awarding community groups around $20,000 dollars this year and has donated more than $140,000 dollars to the community since 2005.

“We can be able to support the furthering of education in this community and really contribute to economic development which is where we want to go in terms of a community in order to raise the standard of living”, said Family Center Program Director Joan Butler.

The Family Centered Adult Basic Education program received money for computer training adults ages 17 and older for employment purposes.

“…with these funds, it will help us purchase additional musical instruments for the park and some day, our great is hope is that Starkville will be known as the city of musical play…”, said Pilot Club member Bonnie Crew.

The Pilot Club received a grant to add additional musical instruments to J.L. King Park.

Here is a full list of organizations that received grant money:

Christian World Missions (To complete craft room, kitchen, and concrete sealer) – $2,000

Don’t Count Me Out (Matching 1 to 1 for money/mental health program) – $1,000

Family Centered Adult Basic Education (Computer training for employment) – $2,000

FUMC (Backpack Ministry into SHS) – $2,000

Habitat for Humanity (30-year anniversary celebration) – $1,000

Pilot Club (ADA-accessible outdoor drums/J.L. King Park) – $1,540

Starkville Community Theatre- (Sponsorship of “The Cemetery Club”) – $2,500

Syd Muzzy (Driving Behaviors for 10th graders and senior citizens) — $5,789

GED Awards (7 students receive $50) — $350

Teacher of Distinction — (3 awards, $1,000 per award, tokens, 6 meals, judges) — $3,750