Community Grants of $189,000 Awarded

Thanks in large part to a donation from an Oxnard industrial corporation, the Ventura County Community Foundation has awarded 11 grants totaling $189,000 to local nonprofit organizations.

The funds, offered through the foundation’s “Educating Our Community” program, will help elementary schools, universities, libraries, symphonies and other groups.

Late last year, Haas Automation of Oxnard donated $1 million to the community foundation. Half of it was used to establish an endowment, and the other half, including an allocation of $185,000, was earmarked for nonprofit groups and scholarship funds throughout 1999, said Gail Brown, a foundation official.

Other donors bolstered the Haas contribution by $4,000.

Organizations receiving the funding include:

* California State University, Channel Islands, $25,000, to help 100 college-bound students who need help with English and math.

* Lincoln Elementary School in Ventura, $11,267, to educate students about California history.

* Oxnard Elementary School District Educational Foundation,$26,513, to continue its Bookmobile program.

* Blanchard Community Library, $5,194, for its High-Tech Homework Center.

* The Boys & Girls Club of Ventura, $15,000.

* New West Symphony, $20,000, “Symphonic Adventures” program for children.

* The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Paula, $11,513.

* Piru Elementary School, $26,513, for an after-school program.

* Carnegie Art Museum, $13,000, to bolster its educational program.

* El Centrito De La Colonia, $15,000, for multimedia software for elementary school children.

* Harrington Family Center, Oxnard Elementary School, $20,000, to provide tutoring, and literacy and parenting classes to adults.