The Deluxe Corporation Foundation was able to award three organization's grants totaling $15,000 this year.
Junior Achievement of Middle America, Inc. and the Nodaway Community Theater Company each received $3,500 grants, while Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nodaway County received an $8,000 grant. Both JA and the NCTC received their checks Wednesday morning, while BBBS did not have anyone present to pick up the check at the time.
Ray Delia, a senior development director for Junior Achievement, was on hand Wednesday morning to accept the check on behalf of his organization.
According to its Web site, Junior Achievement programs help prepare young people for the real word by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace.
According to Delia, Junior Achievement's K-12th grade curricula integrates high quality economic education with the real-life experiences of volunteers to make business education relevant. JA's unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver its curriculum while sharing the experience with students. Two schools located in the Maryville are Junior Achievement Schools. St. Gregory's and Horace Mann Elementary Lab School are both participants in the program.
Delia said 24 college students from Northwest Missouri State University taught the JA economics curriculum to more than 129 students at both of those schools last year.
It's with grants they receive from corporations like Deluxe that keep the program running and allow students the chance to learn about this economics — an area they wouldn't otherwise learn about in their regular curriculum.
Especially appreciative this year because he knows the economy is tough, Delia said it's really nice that Deluxe is still able to provide organizations in the community with much-needed funds for their resources.
Last year, JA reached more than 21,400 young people with 87 percent of its functional expenses dedicated to programming. A worldwide program, Delia traveled from the Kansas City, Mo. office.
To learn more about how to become a Junior Achievement school visit the Web site www.jamidamerica.org.
The Nodaway Community Theater Company will be using this year's grant to help with the funding of a sound system and custom darkening/soundproofing draperies for the front window of the theater. NCTC member Barb Scott said the sound system will be especially beneficial for their open mic nights, but will be useful for other events as well.
"We are very pleased with the donation and Deluxe's continued support of our community theater," Scott added.
NCTC plans include having the theater space available for rent to community organizations or individuals to use for various activities. Scott said the draperies will enhance the audience's experience by blocking out distracting traffic noise and daylight.
The $3,500 grant will fund approximately 90 percent of the cost of those projects.
The Nodaway Community Theater Company has several events coming up in January and February, and Scott invites the public to join them.
• Every second Thursday of the month, the NCTC has an open mic night at the Rose Theater on W. Third St. in Maryville. Scott said they have enjoyed a wide variety of acts since the first open mic night in October — including vocal music, instrumental music, puppetry, poetry, drama and improvisation performances. The next open mic night will be this evening at 7 p.m. Admission to the show is $3.
• At 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 16 and at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 17 the NCTC will be holding auditions for its annual youth play. Local youth have the opportunity to audition for "Knights of the Rad Table," which will be presented in March. Anyone of approximately middle school age is eligible to audition. No preparation is necessary and parents are encouraged to attend.
• At 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24 and 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 25 the intimate readers' theater will present a version of O. Henry's classic tale. Dessert will be followed. Tickets are $7 and seating is limited to 36. Call Nina at (660) 582-8196 or Barb at (660) 582-8062 for reservations.
• At 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14 NCTC presents Romance at the Rose: love songs, sonnets and scenes. The evening is aimed to treat your valentine to an evening of romance including an entertaining show, a long-stemmed rose and a decadent dessert. Tickets will be $10 each and will be available at Hy-Vee in early February. Seating is limited to 36.
Maryville, Mo. —
