A charitable foundation awarded more than $37,000 in grants Wednesday, thanks in part to recent contributions to the organization.

The Community Foundation of Southcentral Kentucky – formerly the Bowling Green-Warren County Community Foundation – was able to give one of its largest grants of $5,000 to Kids on the Block, according to Derek Hull, volunteer board chairman.

That money was from John and Linda Kelly, who recently established a $400,000 donor-advised fund with the foundation.

Hull encouraged organization representatives who gathered at a news conference Wednesday to consider steering their donors to the foundation.

“Donor-advised funds are the fastest-growing area for contributions,” particularly for larger donors, he said.

“They can provide a lump-sum donation that is housed in the foundation and then can direct how that money is spent,” Hull said. “Typically the donations through (such funds) would be more than people would give out individually.”

Board members passed out information sheets about the benefits of donor-advised funds, including that donors can enjoy an immediate tax deduction, create a legacy of giving and provide easy record keeping.

Others who have established funds within the foundation include the Vitale family, which was responsible for $16,000 of Wednesday’s donations, and the Gaines family, which was responsible for $4,087.74 to the Warren County Public Library.

Library board member Mildred Williams said the board has not yet decided how it will spend the funding this year. Last year they established a Gaines family lecture series and sponsored other programs with the money.

“We want to be able to give out more money,” Hull said. “And we are closer than ever toward having a permanent (paid) directorship.”

Right now the foundation is run by an 18-member volunteer board that oversees the investment of the funds and decides how to distribute the proceeds from its endowment.

The foundation changed its name to expand its reach and potential appeal to donors

“We don’t want the county border to be a barrier,” he said.

The programs receiving funding Wednesday will mostly benefit Warren County.

Other awards Wednesday included:

• $1,500 for the artist-in-residence program at Bellewood;

• $1,500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters to be used for recruiting, screening, matching and supporting volunteers and children in the program;

• $1,500 to Bowling Green Technical College to pay for 25 people to take the GED;

• $3,500 to the Boys and Girls Club for its summer program;

• $1,278 to Capitol Arts for a summer musical;

• $2,500 to Court Appointed Special Advocates to expand its Fostering Futures program;

• $1,500 to Family Enrichment Center for parent education classes;

• $1,600 to H.O.T.E.L. Inc. to assist with caregiver funding for low-income residents;

• $2,000 to Junior Achievement for its teen summit;

• $2,000 to The Salvation Army for its homeless program;

• $4,000 to St. Joseph School for restoration of its original 1911 door;

• $1,000 to Bowling Green High School Orchestra Boosters;

• $3,000 to WKU Early Childhood Education Center; and

• $1,500 to the Center for Courageous Kids.

In all, 20 organizations had applied for funding totaling more than $82,000. Fifteen projects were funded, some at less than the amount requested and others with more.

— For more information about the foundation, including about donor-advised funds, call Hull at 791-5166 or treasurer Kevin Simpson at 393-4485.