William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Invest in the Future of Arts Promotion and Education
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is pleased to announce that it has been awarded two grants to help support its work in making art and culture accessible throughout the county.
The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust has granted $50,000 for the Cultural Councilās work with the business community and arts organizations to ensure ongoing support for the arts in Palm Beach County.
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties has granted $25,000 in matching funds to establish a permanent endowment as part of its Forever Nonprofit Endowment Challenge. The funds for this initiative come from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund and the Marie Graber Martens Fund.
Both of these grants were awarded through a competitive application and review process.
āThe Kenan Charitable Trust is happy to support the Cultural Council of Palm Beach Countyās mission to nurture and promote the arts and art education across Palm Beach County. We are especially pleased at the partnerships that the Council has forged among the arts, the hospitality industry and locally-based businesses to enhance quality of life in the county,ā said Douglas Zinn, executive director of The Kenan Charitable Trust.
āThe Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is focused on its goal to endow the future of its local nonprofits. A matching challenge like this one provides our partners like the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County with future stability and a foundation from which to grow ā one not contingent on the success of current or future fundraising efforts,ā said Brad Hurlburt, president and CEO at the Community Foundation.
āGenerous grants from the Willian R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties will bolster our ongoing efforts to ensure that Palm Beach County communities, schools and families are enriched by art and culture,ā said Rena Blades, CEO of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. āWe are extremely grateful for this support.ā
Contact:
Judith Czelusniak
jczelusniak@palmbeachculture.com
(561) 471-1602
About the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust
The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust is named for William R. Kenan Jr., a chemical engineer who helped in the discovery of the process of converting calcium carbide to acetylene and the construction of carbide and acetylene plants at the turn of the 19th century. As brother-in-law to Henry M. Flagler, Mr. Kenan established a strong interest in Florida and spent the majority of his later years in the state. In 1904, Mr. Kenan built the first 210-kilowatt power plant in Miami, and in 1955 as a director of Florida Power & Light he turned on one of the largest power plants in the state, the 140,000-kilowatt power generator in Cutler. Mr. Kenan also served for many years as president of the Florida East Coast Railway and the Florida East Coast Hotel Company. Following Mr. Kenan’s death in 1965, a major portion of his estate was used to establish the Trust.
About the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is one of Floridaās largest community foundations, an organization created with gifts from generous people committed to local causes. The nonprofit organization has provided nearly $129 million in grants and scholarships over its 44-year history. For donors, the Foundation serves as a philanthropic advisor and ensures the charitable dollars entrusted to it are available to the community – forever. For the community, the Foundation serves as a grant maker and a civic leader. Through the support of its donors and fund holders, the Foundation has been able to address some of the communityās most pressing needs, including hunger, housing and education. For more information, please visit www.yourcommunityfoundation.org or call (561) 659-6800.
