Recipients appreciate gifts from Gardner Jackson Trust

December 23, 2008

By Steve Eighinger

Rob Dwyer called the news "a godsend."

Dwyer is the executive director of the Quincy Society of Fine Arts, which Monday received word it would be receiving a $75,000 grant over three years from the Marion Gardner Jackson Charitable Trust.

"This is really wonderful, especially in this economy," Dwyer said. "What wonderful news this is, especially at this time of the year."

This marks the 19th time in the 31-year history of the grants that the Quincy Society of Fine Arts has received funding. The money will be used to aid organizations that will have an economic impact on the area, such as the popular Blues in the District and Mid-Summer Arts Faire series.

The Quincy Society of Fine Arts was one of 13 area not-for-profit organizations receiving grants from the Marion Gardner Jackson Trust, which has granted more than $12 million to charitable agencies serving the Adams County area since it was established in 1978.

The trust awarded commitments this year totaling $287,537 -- including $186,537 of immediate grants and $101,000 of future multi-year or challenge grants. The trust will also release $191,872 in multi-year or challenge grants pledged in earlier years.

Charles Slamar, regional executive for philanthropic management at Bank of America, which oversees the trust, said 38 agencies seeking $2.8 million, applied for funds. This year's recipients are:

* Alliances for Building Community, $43,500 over three years.

* Boy Scouts of America, $10,000.

* Cheerful Home Association, $9,743.

* Cornerstone Foundation for Families, $12,724.

* Jackson-Lincoln Swimming Complex, $33,000 over three years.

* Madonna House, $10,000.

* Quanada, $25,000.

* Quincy Art Center, $25,000.

* Quincy Catholic Charities, $6,671.

* Quincy Notre Dame High School, $19,000.

* Quincy Society of Fine Arts, $75,000 over three years.

* Salvation Army, $10,000.

* Sunset Home, $7,890.

Additionally, the trust will deliver the following payments on multi-year or challenge grants awarded in earlier years:

* Access Health Adams County Program/Operating, $25,000, second of three years.

* Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Illinois, $25,000, second of three years.

* Culver-Stockton College, $53,400, second of two years.

* First Tee of Great River, $10,000, third of three years.

* John Wood Community College, $37,500, second of four years.

* Quincy Area Branch of the Alzheimer's Association, $22,422, second of three years.

* Quincy Park Foundation, $18,500.

Indiren Pillay, chairman of the natural and math science division and associate professor of biology at Culver-Stockton in Canton, Mo., said the funds the school will receive are targeted for "upgrading existing lab equipment and refurbishing a lot of teaching strategies."

"In this economy, this is an amazing gift to receive," Pillay said. "The Marion Gardner Jackson Trust has been very generous to us."

Carrie Edgar of the University of Illinois Extension, a spokesman for the Alliances for Building Community, said that organization's grant will be used to pay the salary of a program coordinator and provide program support.

Alliances for Building Communities (ABC) is a combined effort of the U of I Extension, Adams County Health Department and United Way. The ABC coalition works to address and solve the concerns and problems of the area through such means as community assessment surveys.

"The (problems) we try and address can range from poverty to more greenspace, all kinds of things," Edgar said.

Boy Scouts of America, Cheerful Home, QND, Quincy Catholic Charities and Sunset Home will use grant money for equipment improvement.

Cornerstone Foundation, Quanada and Quincy Art Center will use their funds for major maintenance projects.

The Salvation Army and Madonna House will be restocking their food pantries, while Jackson-Lincoln Swimming Complex will use its grant for program support.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, Access Health Adams County, First Tee and the Alzheimer's Association will use funds for general program operations.

The Quincy Park Foundation's grant will help continue the development of Bob Mays Park.

The Student Activity Center at JWCC will benefit from the funds the school will receive.

The fund was established by the granddaughter of Robert W. Gardner, founder of what became Gardner Denver, a leading global manufacturer of compressors, pumps and blowers for various industrial and transportation applications.

Before her death in 1976 at age 88, Mrs. Jackson set up the perpetual trust to help religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational organizations, primarily in the Quincy area. The fund is now valued at $8.2 million.