The Marion County Community Foundation has awarded nearly $80,000 in grants recently. The recipients of the largest grants include the Friends of the Melcher-Dallas Library, who received $10,000 for their building fund; the Knoxville Public Library, who received $8,000 for their expansion and renovation; the Knoxville Morning Kiwanis Club, who received $5,000 for the Young’s Park playground project, and Fields for Our Future, who received $5000 for the Pella Sports Park Complex.

The foundation receives grant money that’s funded through a portion of the state gambling revenues. They award funds based on the merit of the project, feasibility of completion, and priority of the need to be met, among other items. They also place 25 percent of funds annually into a permanent endowment fund.