McCormick Tribune Foundation Affirms Commitment to
Children, Communities and Country
Board Approves Fourth-Quarter Grants to 60 Quality Agencies
Media Contact:
Kristin Gallagher
(312) 222-4502
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CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2005
The McCormick Tribune Foundation board of directors continued its commitment to children, communities and country by approving a total of $11 million to 60 quality agencies throughout the nation. More than $5.3 million of that amount will go to Chicago-area organizations. Examples of these grants are outlined below.
Aligned with the foundation’s commitment to addressing community needs, a $225,000 grant was approved to North County Interfaith Council, Inc. through the communities program’s North County Times Charities Fund (Escondido, Calif.). This grant will fund social services—emergency shelters, health care, and job training and placement—that help low-income families overcome poverty.
In an effort to provide educational opportunities to Chicago’s youth, the foundation approved a $500,000 grant to Columbia College Chicago. This grant will be matched by Columbia to create an endowed fund that will generate more than 10 $4,000 scholarships annually to graduates of Chicago Public Schools who have maintained a certain level of academic achievement, demonstrated financial need and have an interest in Columbia’s arts, communications and media disciplines.
The foundation also awarded $400,000 to the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations (CCFR), an organization closely aligned with the foundation’s belief that a well-informed citizenry is essential in the preservation of our democracy. The grant will fund CCFR’s 2006 America and the World Conference and Public Opinion Survey as well as general program support. Since 1992, the foundation has awarded 13 grants totaling more than $1.1 million to CCFR.
“As the McCormick Tribune Foundation’s 50th anniversary celebration comes to a close, we have been engaged in a strategic planning process to refocus our program areas so every dollar awarded has a strong and enduring impact,” said David L. Grange, president and chief executive officer of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. “As a result, it remains clear that one of our best options in achieving this plan is to invest in our children, communities and country.”
About the McCormick Tribune Foundation
The McCormick Tribune Foundation is one of the nation’s largest charitable organizations, with combined assets of approximately $1.4 billion. In 2004, the foundation approved the distribution of more than $109 million to invest in children, communities and our country in an effort to strengthen our democratic society through innovative partnerships. The foundation, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2005, was established as a charitable trust upon the death of Col. Robert R. McCormick, longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The foundation is an independent non-profit, separate from Tribune Co., with substantial holdings in Tribune Co.
The foundation provides assistance in four program areas—communities, education, journalism and citizenship—and funds a special initiatives program. Through its grants, the foundation seeks to improve the social and economic environment; encourage a free and responsible discussion of issues affecting the nation; enhance the effectiveness of American education; and stimulate responsible citizenship. For more information, visit http://www.mccormicktribune.org/.
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