Boise Art Museum (BAM) announced today it has received a community grant totaling $1,999.27 from The Fred Meyer Fund in support of the Museum’s Free School Tour Program. This program represents BAM’s core educational service, which, in the 2008/09 academic year will enable over 12,000 Idaho students and their teachers to visit the Museum free of charge and experience docent-led exhibition tours accompanied by hands-on art projects. “The state of Idaho does not place visual arts specialists in most of its elementary schools. The Free School Tour Program is essential to the development of Idaho’s youth, who often have no other access to art,” said Melanie Fales, BAM’s Curator of Education.
“The Fred Meyer Fund and its Advisory Committee Members were particularly impressed by the successful track record of the Boise Art Museum and its educational programs,” said Glynda Brockhoff, Philanthropy Coordinator for Fred Meyer stores and The Fred Meyer Fund. “We hope this community grant will help BAM continue the important work it is doing to enhance the welfare of the community. We are proud to be part of the Boise community and are committed to helping where we can.”
The Fund’s community grant program is led by 29 Advisory Committees whose members are local Fred Meyer associates from each Fred Meyer store, plant and warehouse. Members of the Advisory Committee research nonprofit organizations in their communities, invite specific grant applicants, and then award community grants.
The community grants are funded by individual donations from Fred Meyer associates as well as customer donations in the Make Change Count coin boxes at all check stands within the stores. The monies collected through associate donations and coin boxes contributions are combined and allocated by the Advisory Committees as community grants in the four western states where Fred Meyer operates.
The Fred Meyer Fund assists nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to helping children and reducing hunger in communities served by 129 Fred Meyer stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. In 2007, The Fred Meyer Fund awarded $1.7 million in grants.
Fred Meyer is a division of The Kroger Co., which is one of the nation’s largest food retailers. Fred Meyer annually contributes more than $5 million to communities across the Northwest through grants from The Fred Meyer Fund as well as product donations, cash donations and sponsorships. The Fred Meyer Fund has awarded grants totaling over $8.6 million since it began awarding grants in 1998. For more information about Fred Meyer grants, call 1-800-858-9202, ext. 5605.
