|
MAY 2007
The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation
Investing in the community, making more grant opportunities
available
A new community foundation has been incorporated by the State of
Texas and granted an official charge to make monetary reinvestments
into the Arlington community.
The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation has been formed by the Arlington
City Council to oversee an endowment fund created from natural gas
revenues realized on City-owned property.
Ninety-percent of gas well lease bonus earnings and 50 percent of
all royalties earned from the wells go into a permanent endowment
fund. The interest earnings from this fund will be distributed
through grants to help improve the quality of life in Arlington. The
recruitment process for an executive director to oversee the
day-to-day operations of the foundation begins this summer.
“Neighborhoods and families are the fundamental building blocks of
any community,” said Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck. “In nurturing and
supporting them, we are ensuring our successful future.”
|
The Foundation plans to seek other public and
private funding to grow the endowment fund and accept gifts from
contributors and their estates. For more information about the
Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, call or e-mail Sr. Management
Analyst, Pamela Rambo-Estill at 817-459-6244 or
Pamela.Rambo-Estill@arlingtontx.gov. |
Mayor Pro Tempore Ron Wright is the president of the Tomorrow
Foundation. He said the foundation is encouraging partnerships and
the leveraging of resources throughout the community.
“Whether it is capital that allows neighbors to work together on a
project or it is seed money to help get a project started, the
Arlington Tomorrow Foundation wants to be an integral partner in
projects that improve the community,” he said.
City Manager Jim Holgersson serves as an ex-officio member of the
Foundation Board. He said the foundation is providing an additional
source of funding for Mayor and City Council community priorities.
“The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation is committed to the education and
development of our children,” Holgersson said. “We are working to
ensure safe and attractive neighborhoods, to providing for parks and
open spaces and opportunities to enjoy recreational opportunities.
We will help to advance arts and culture and historic preservation.
These are our community goals.”
The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation is governed by a five-member board
of directors. From Left to Right: Mayor Pro Tempore/President Ron
Wright, District 2 Council Member Sheri Capehart, At-large community
member/Vice President Joe Way, At-large community member/Secretary
Kristin Vandergriff and District 1 Council Member/Treasurer Mel
LeBlanc.
On June 11, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation awarded its first
grant to the Arlington Parks and Recreation Board for the
construction of Heroes Park, a new park dedicated to the city’s
police and fire officials who have fallen in the line of duty. A
$100,000 check was formally presented on June 11.
On June 26, a $1 million Arlington Tomorrow Foundation Grant will go
to the River Legacy Foundation to support their endowment fund that
preserves and enhances land along the Trinity River and its
tributaries. Watch the presentation live on City Cable Channel 16
beginning at 6:30 p.m
More grant announcements are planned for the fall. Watch for more
details in July when the newly created website
www.arlingtonfoundation.org is launched.
[ back ]
|
