The Grand Terrace City Council approved the Community Benefits Fund to continue in FY2017-18 with an adopted budget of $25,000. The Community Benefits Fund’s purpose is to provide funding for local youth programs, community events, community fee waivers, and be used as an economic development tool for small business development in the City. As with past years, this year’s funds will have $5,000 earmarked for the December “Light Up Grand Terrace” event. There have been two other grant applicants that have filed to receive monies for this fiscal year. 1) Grand Terrace Youth Football and Cheer; and 2) American Cancer Society. Grand Terrace Youth Football and Cheer is an organization that ensures all youth between the ages of 5-14 within the community to have the opportunity to participate in organized youth football and cheer. The objective for all involved is to not only have fun learning the game of football and the spirit of cheer, but to also build their character and self-esteem by practicing teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, pride, and academic excellence. The amount requested was $2,000 dollars to purchase new safer helmets and equipment. Previously, the city council had approved two Community Benefits Funds grants for the Grand Terrace Youth Football and Cheer: a) $2,000 for April 2017, and b) $2,000 for March 2016.
The second request for funds came from the American Cancer Society (ACS) whose mission is to educate the public on cancer and prevention, to provide information on programs that ACS offers, to celebrate survivors and caregivers, free the world from cancer. ACS will be holding a “Relay for Life” event on April 28-29th at the Grand Terrace High School. The event is to celebrate Survivors and Caregivers and the $2,000 being asked for will fund the survivors/caregivers tent at the Relay for Life in April, 2018. Usually there are over 100 cancer survivors that attend the event and they will be provided goodie bags funded through donations, such as this grant. This event is free for the community and surrounding cities.
City staff had reviewed the two applications and recommended to the council that they approved the funding of each. Both applications were approved unanimously with Council Member Bill Hussey making the motion, seconded by Council Member Kenneth J. Henderson and Mayor Darcy McNaboe and Council Member Doug Wilson saying aye. Mayor Pro Tem Sylvia Robles was absent.