A reception took place Nov. 21 at 304 Venue to honor this year’s 21 recipients. Overall, the grant program distributed $79,282. Now in its 13th year, the grant program has distributed some $740,000 in grants.

Grant recipients this year were Tonganoxie City Fire Department, Tonganoxie police, Genesis Schools, Jarbalo Community Bible Church, Sranger Township Volunteer Fire Department, Tonganoxie Arts Council, Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, Tonganoxie Senior Citizens, Inc., Tonganoxie United Methodist Church and USD 464 schools.

Recipients in USD 464 were Tonganoxie Elementary School Backpack Buddies, TES physical education department, Tonganoxie Middle School Enriching Young Minds, TMS Gifted Education, Tonganoxie High School Band, CPR class equipment, THS Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, THS FFA/Agriculture Department, THS Graphic Arts Department, THS Horticulture Class, THS PE and wrestling programs and THS Robotics program.

A committee of community members selects the grant recipients by using grant guidelines to evaluate each grant request.

Priority areas for the grant are: youth, education, history, pioneers and Kansas heritage, agriculture, women’s issues, health, technology and family and consumer science.