Countywide : Foundation Given 2 Challenge Grants

One of the largest area family foundations has awarded the Orange County Community Foundation--a organization that supports social, educational and environmental causes--a challenge grant of $1 million for the development of a permanent community endowment, officials announced Monday.

The Harry and Grace Steele Foundation of Newport Beach made the award.

At the same time, the community foundation received another challenge grant for $60,000 from the prestigious Charles Stewart Mott Foundation of Flint, Mich.

Under challenge grants, the Community Foundation has to raise an equal amount locally before the grant is received. The community foundation has about $2 million in assets.

The Harry and Grace Steele Foundation has awarded nearly $70 million in grants since it was founded by the Steele Family, which owned a company that produced electrical motors. It has steadily pumped money into the arts and higher education in Southern California.

The Orange County Community Foundation, according to executive director Judy Swayne, disburses donations from corporations, families and other foundations. She said the first community foundation began in Cleveland 75 years ago and the idea has spread to 300 metropolitan communities across the country.

“It is used as a philanthropic tool to assist the donor to give to a broad spectrum of local social, educational, cultural, environmental, health and civic needs,” she said.

The Community Foundation was set up nearly two years ago.

“The commitment of the Steele Foundation to permanent endowment building in this county adds to a fine legacy to their long dedication to supporting local community charitable needs,” said Carl Mitchell, founding board president.

“The national recognition by the Mott Foundation underlines the importance of endowment,” he said.