photo by Barrett Welch

Teachers and administrators from Selma City Schools and the Dallas County School System and representatives of volunteer fire stations and other organizations pose on the steps at Our House restaurant during the International Paper Foundation Grant Awards Luncheon on Tuesday.

IP awards grants

By Barrett Welch (Contact) | Selma Times-Journal

Published Tuesday, December 16, 2008

International Paper Riverdale Mill awarded $55,000 in grants to area agencies and schools during the IP Foundation Grant Awards Luncheon at Our House on Tuesday.

“The grant is just a part of what goes to the community,” said Riverdale Mill manager Russell Harris. “A lot of these grants have the employees involved, and they’re there year-round. This is just a way to give a little extra financial help to do things which, in most cases, wouldn’t get done.”

Selma City Schools was awarded more than $23,000. Ten schools received grants for differing purposes.

Sophia P. Kingston Elementary received $4,200 to develop a butterfly garden as an outdoor classroom site. Byrd Elementary received $1,262 to raise nature awareness in kindergarten students. Edgewood Elementary, Meadowview Elementary, Payne Elementary and Selma Middle CHAT received literacy grants of varying amounts.

“We try to align the money that’s given with both the company priorities of literacy, education, employee involvement and burgeon those things,” said Pam Frazier, mill communications manager. “It’s a way to bring back the things that are not only important to the community but important to our employees.”

The Dallas County School System was awarded more than $16,000 spread among five schools. Brantley Elementary, Bruce K. Craig Elementary, Shiloh Elementary, Five Points Elementary and J.E. Terry Elementary received literacy grants.

The remaining $15,260 was split amongst the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County ($4,500), Burnsville Volunteer Fire Department ($3,126), Lawley Volunteer Fire Department ($1,906), Orrville Volunteer Fire Department, ($1,728), Summerfield Volunteer Fire Department ($2,500) and SABRA Sanctuary ($1,500).

The Company has awarded grants to schools and agencies since 1953. International Paper affiliates awarded $3.6 million in grant money across the country. The grants are determined through an application process that stresses employee involvement. Funds are allocated through the International Paper Company Foundation.

Though several schools and organizations in the Dallas County area received assistance, several applicants were turned down.

“We know there are a lot more well-deserved grant requests out there,” said Harris. “But due to limited resources, we had to make our decisions. We hate that we couldn’t fund them all.”

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