PRESS RELEASE
On June 26, 2025, the Maxine E. Spitler Foundation awarded grants to 17 applicants from the Illinois counties of Jasper and Lawrence. A total of $32,524.93 was given to the various organizations chosen to receive funding for their projects.
Grant recipients are as follows:
Grantee Award Purpose
| Red Hill CUSD #10Jr/Sr High School Music Department | $ 587.63 | Guitar Rack, 15 Black Choir Folders, 80’ Microphone Cables |
| Jasper County CUSD #1R.E.A.D“Reading Excites All Dreams” | $ 2,000.00 | 3 Reading Books Provided to All Jasper County District Schools Including St. Thomas K-3 Students |
| Lawrence County Humane Society | $ 2,900.00 | Spay and Neuter Program |
| St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School | $ 5,790.54 | Toward Purchase of 17 ASUS Chromebooks for 5th – 8th Grade Use |
| Jasper County CUSD # 1Newton Elementary School Strong Girls and B.O.Y.S Programs | $ 999.00 | Towards T-Shirts and Lesson Materials |
| Red Hill CUSD #10Sumner Attendance CenterPhysical Education Department | $ 660.06 | Floor Activity Barriers (Set of 24) |
| Jasper County Boys and Girls Park, Inc. | $ 2,729.00 | ELKAY Drinking Fountain with Bottle Filler |
| Jasper County CUSD #1Newton Community High SchoolMusic Department | $ 2,590.00 | 2 – Shure Wireless Microphone Systems |
| Lawrence County Arts Council | $ 769.70 | Kids Theatre Week T-Shirt Costs |
| Lawrence County CUSD #20Parkside Elementary SchoolArt Department | $ 900.00 | Acrylic, Tempera and Watercolor Paints, Reusable Classroom Aprons, Gel Press Plates, Ink and Brayers for Printmaking. |
| Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc.Jasper County Outreach Office | $ 1,000.00 | Food Pantry for Jasper County Low-Income Children in Grades K-12 |
| Jasper County Health DepartmentSafe Sitter Class 2026 | $ 1,239.05 | 24 Official Safe Sitter Student Handbooks and Drawstring Backpacks, Snacks and Nursing Costs |
| Lawrence County CUSD # 20Parkside Elementary SchoolParkside Library | $ 1,000.00 | Book Category/Genre Signs, Sign Holders, Shelf Labels and Display Items |
| Lawrence County Health Department“Healthy Kids Day” | $ 1,000.00 | Purchase of Backpacks and School Supplies |
| Saved By Grace Animal RescueTrap, Neuter Return Program | $ 2,900.00 | Towards Spay, Neuter and Rabies Programs |
| Claws and Paws- Lawrence County Trap and Return Program (LCTNR) | $ 459.95 | 5 Tru Catch 30LTD Light Duty Animal Traps |
| Kid Shopping Day of Lawrence County | $ 5,000.00 | Purchase of School Clothing and School Supply Items |
Qualifying organizations that wish to submit an application to The Maxine E. Spitler Foundation must be either a tax-supported governmental unit or entity or must be a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c)(3) and must be located in Jasper or Lawrence County, Illinois. The recipient organization must provide activities for youth or sponsor projects that care for domestic and wild animals or saving any animal species in danger of extinction.
So, if you are part of a qualifying organization that has a future project coming up, now is the time to start getting your paperwork in order so that you can apply for funding next year. Grant applications for the annual awards of The Maxine E. Spitler Foundation may be obtained at the office of Weber and Company, Inc. located at 604 West Jourdan in Newton, Illinois. The deadline for submission of applications is May 31st each year. An advisory board reviews the applications and determines the awards each year.
