Twenty-five local nonprofits have been awarded a total of $30,000 by the organization that runs the annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
The financial gifts ranged from $500 to $2,500. This is the second year the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association have given back to the community- the program was started in 2016.
The 25 Butler County organizations that were selected were chosen from more than 40 applicants.
“It is very important to our members and board of directors that we share the success of the Festival with local non-profit organizations,” said Todd Wagner, president. “When we reviewed the accomplishments of the 19 organizations that received funds last year, it inspired our group to give 50 percent more than we did in 2016. Our 500 volunteers are grateful that their efforts not only benefit the Festival, but they help thousands of others throughout Butler County.”
The Association’s board of directions selected these 25 organizations:
• Auxiliary, American Legion Post 474, Zelienople
• Butler Chapter, North Country Trail Association
• Butler County Blind Association
• Butler County Family YMCA
• Butler County Symphony Association
• Butler Downtown (more)
Friends of the Bantam Jeep P.O. Box 89
Association, Inc. Evans City, PA 16033
• Butler Meals on Wheels, Inc.
• Center for Community Resources
• Community Care Connections, Inc.
• Community Health Clinic of Butler County
• Connecting2Tomorrow, Inc.
• Critical Incident Stress Management Team of Butler County
• Don’t Stop Dreamin’
• Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center
• Evans City Public Library Association
• Grapevine Center, Inc.
• Life Choices
• OVADA – One Voice for the Abused Domestic Animals
• Penn Theater Performance Company
• South Butler Community Library
• Specialty Outreach Services, Inc.
• The Butler Little Theater
• The Salvation Army
• Victim Outreach Intervention Center
• Washington’s Trail
About 10 percent of the total amount given to the organizations was donated by Omix-ADA. The company, sponsor of the Festival’s Jeep History Exhibit, sold items at the Festival specifically for the purpose of raising funds for FBJA to give to Butler County organizations.
“We want to be more than just the Association that executes one of the most successful Jeep events in the nation,” said Wagner. “Our goal is for our volunteers, attendees, sponsors and vendors to realize that their support is doing much more than bringing Jeep enthusiasts to Butler County. They are helping us make a real difference to thousands right here where the Jeep was born.”