$10,000 Matching Art Grant awarded to Virginia Foundation

Photo: Jon Anderson (on right) explains the matching art grant at the Virginia Foundation office on Wed. Feb. 18, 2009.
Joy Global Foundation, philanthropic arm of the parent company P&H Mining Equipment, gave a challenge (matching) grant of $10,000 for arts funding. The announcement was made at the Virgina Community Foundation office by Jon Anderson, P & H Mining Equipment general manager, and Linda Niskanen, Virginia Foundation Executive Director, to representatives of various local art groups and other interested parties.The grant was one of only two made in the United States. P & H will match up to $10,000 in donations to the Fund for the Arts in care of Virginia Community Foundation, P.O. Box 559 in Virginia, Mn. 55792 or money can be delivered to the office at 519 Chestnut St.. Further questions can be addressed to 749-8329 or director@virginiafoundation.com. The plan is for the combined $20,000 to be an endowment and that local art grants can be awarded with the interest money. It is hoped that grants can be awarded within a year in a competitive process for various art organizations.Donna Leese, Virginia Foundation Board Chair, praised P & H for their community involvement as did the others in attendance.