McCormick Tribune Foundation Promotes Civic Health and Engages Citizens and Communities Through Fourth-Quarter Grants

Grants to 15 local and national agencies benefit our children, communities and country

Contact: Kristin Kiss KKiss@mccormickfoundation.org 312 222 4502

CHICAGO, January 14, 2008

The McCormick Tribune Foundation board of directors reinforced its commitment to improving the health of communities and promoting an active and engaged citizenry by approving a total of $6.8 million to 15 agencies throughout the nation. More than 85 percent of the grants will be awarded to Chicago-area organizations. (A complete record of grants awarded is provided).

“Our fourth-quarter investments in human services, journalism and early childhood education are intended to reverse our country’s declining civic health and nurture and educate our citizens,” said David L. Grange, president and chief executive officer, McCormick Tribune Foundation. “The McCormick Tribune Foundation continues to work with a variety of well-regarded agencies, both at the local and national level, that have a proven track record in strengthening our communities.

Responding to a critical state funding shortfall, the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention (CPVP) will receive a two-year, $500,000 grant through the Foundation’s special initiatives program. The grant will support CPVP’s core program, CeaseFire, which works with community-based organizations throughout Chicago to implement strategies that reduce and prevent violence. The Foundation credits CeaseFire with helping Chicago mark its fourth consecutive year with fewer than 500 homicides.

The Foundation’s journalism program awards a $750,000, two-year grant to Northwestern University’s Media Management Center (MMC). MMC provides research development and executive education for the news media. The grant will help MMC assist new organizations with their fiscal, strategic, editorial, marketing and leadership challenges. The Foundation has supported MMC’s efforts to foster a vigorous and diverse new media since 1993.

The Governor’s Council for Community Health Partnerships, which provides low-income children recreational and educational opportunities in the summer, will receive $150,000 grant through the communities program’s Sun-Sentinel Children’s Fund (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The grant will fund the Summer Camp Scholarship program, which provides low-income children a full scholarship to a day camp matching their personal interests for the entire summer. The Governor’s Council for Community Health Partnerships has awarded more than 15,788 local scholarships since 1995.

McCormick Tribune Foundation fourth-quarter grants approved:*

*all grants serve the Chicago region unless otherwise noted

Communities Program Grants
1. Sun-Sentinel Children’s Fund (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Governor’s Council for Community Health Partnerships For the Summer Camp Scholarship program $150,000
Total	$150,000

Journalism Program Grants
2. Northwestern University’s Media Management Center. For general operating support over two years $750,000
Total	$750,000

Special Initiatives Program Grants
Civic Institutions
3. Chicago Community Foundation To support nonprofits and communities impacted by Chicago’s Olympic bid $1,000,000
4. Chicago Metropolis 2020 For general support $250,000
5. Chicago Project for Violence Prevention (University of Illinois Foundation) For general support over two years $500,000
6. Chicago Public Education Fund To improve school leadership and student achievement $1,000,000
7. Corporate Leadership Center To support a nonprofit participant in the CEO Perspective program $50,000
Cultural Institutions
8. Chicago Humanities Festival For general support over three years $200,000
9. Lincoln Park Zoological Society Restoration of the south pond and environmental education programs $500,000
Health Institutions
10. Rush University Medical Center For a preschool social emotional learning initiative at Rush Neurobehavioral Center $472,875
Social Service Institutions
11. Chicago Lighthouse for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired Support programs benefiting children $480,000
12. Have Dreams Expansion of its Communication and Independent Life Skills program $500,000
13. Juvenile Protective Association For the “Building Bridges to North Lawndale” program $100,000
Non-Chicago Institutions
14. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (Washington, D.C.) Package of funding including naturalization ceremony at memorial in Washington D.C. $500,000
15. Michigan State University (East Lansing, Mich.) Preserve and digitize a collection of Chicago Tribune newspapers $358,000
Total	$5,910,875
Fourth-Quarter Grand Total	$6,810,875