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Foundation seeks ideas to improve community

JANESVILLE — How many times have you said it: "If people would just listen to me, this town would be a better place."

Well, here's your chance.

The Janesville Foundation is offering up to $3,000 to put your good ideas into practice.

The bad news: You’ll never see the money. But you will have the satisfaction of being able to say that your idea made a difference.

The foundation’s new Sparks Grants program will take ideas from anyone—business people, nonprofit organizations or ordinary residents.

Nonprofits submit ideas for funding all the time, said Bonnie Robinson, the foundation’s president and executive director, so the idea of the Sparks Grants is to cast a wider net in hopes of coming up with innovative ideas that normally would not be considered.

The grants themselves will go to 501(c)(3) groups, which will turn the ideas into workable programs, Robinson said in a speech to the Janesville Noon Rotarians on Monday.

Robinson said the foundation has put the word out, but so far, ideas have been few. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Aug 11.

Janesville Foundation Board member Ron Ochs said the Sparks Grants were developed before the recent layoff announcements that have rocked the community, but he thinks many of the ideas might tend toward economic and community development.

Ochs made that statement when a Rotarian asked what he thought was the single biggest challenge Janesville faces.

“Times are changing rapidly, and this organization is trying to be sensitive to those changes,” Ochs said.

Submitting an idea requires filling out a one-page form that asks for a description of the idea and how it would benefit the community. Idea-submitters also must give their names and contact information.

SUBMIT AN IDEA

Monday, Aug. 11, is the deadline to submit an idea to the Janesville Foundation’s Sparks Grants program.

To submit and idea, go to www.janesvillefoundation.org, click “Sparks,” and then click on “Submit your idea online” or “Download idea form to mail or fax.”

Ideas should be faxed to (608) 752-1952 or mailed to Janesville Foundation, P.O. Box 8123, Janesville, WI 53547.