An art program at East Side Elementary was among the recipients of grants recently disbursed by the Park County Community Foundation.
The foundation this week announced the recipients of $500,000 in grant funding for local nonprofits and schools engaged in arts education, art festivals, and performing arts. The community foundation’s board of directors approved the grants based on recommendations of the newly formed Park County Council for the Arts.
Funding is being distributed in four programs areas: Community art week activities, $128,500; School-based arts programming for grades 3-12 in the Livingston Public School district, $120,000; Art-focused community gathering spaces, including performance space enhancements in the Gardiner School and at the Shane Center, $100,000; and the Crazy Mountains Oral History project, a program of the Park County Environmental Council that brings together diverse voices from local communities, including Indigenous perspectives, to create an archive of stories that reflect the region’s connection to the land and environment, $51,500.

In this season of gratitude, we are most grateful for YOU. As one of our trusted partners, you already understand that the Park County Community Foundation serves our community in a number of ways. Read on to learn more.

On Oct. 1, the Park County Community Foundation will host a free “Legacy Giving” event from 9:30-11 a.m. in the Bev Stevenson Room at the Livingston Public Library. The event will feature as presenter one of the architects of the Montana Endowment Tax Credit (METC). The presentation will introduce Park County residents to some of the most tax-wise ways to “give heart and give smart” with their charitable giving, according to a PCCF press release.

Presenters include Certified Financial Planner and planned giving expert Jim Soft of James C. Soft & Associates. Jim Soft has more than 40 years of experience educating the public about the benefits of legacy giving, which also is known as planned giving.
“He specializes in the tax strategies that allow donors to do smart financial planning and charitable giving that can both take care of family and enable donations to non-profits in the community,” reads the release. “Soft was largely responsible for initiating and facilitating the writing of the popular and now permanent Montana Endowment Tax Credit.”

He also has served on the board of the American Council on Gift Annuities and on the board of the Charitable IRA Initiative, a 501©(4) group whose work was largely responsible for the extension and enhancement of the charitable IRA incentive legislation.
Park County resident John Gillespie, a retired geologist and business owner, also will share his experience with one of the giving tools that he and his wife, Bernice, have used in their support of local nonprofits. As a board member of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum Foundation, John has developed the current program that focuses on natural history and enlightened stewardship in Park County.

“Tax codes can be confusing, but they do offer ways for you to take care of yourself, your family, and still leave a lasting legacy for your community long after you are gone,” said Tricia Erikson, PCCF philanthropy director, in the release. “This workshop is designed to take away some of the mystery around how to do that. This is the first in a series of events that will offer information to residents about different ways to give that fit their circumstances.”
The Oct. 1 session is geared toward people who wish to learn tax-wise ways to make charitable donations.

“Nonprofit professionals who are interested in planned giving training for your organization should visit our website and watch emails for upcoming Nonprofit ACTion trainings as there will be specific events designed for them,” reads the release.

Coffee, tea, and pastries will be provided for attendees. RSVP is required due to the room size and to provide enough refreshments. RSVP or address any questions to Erikson at tricia.erikson@pccf-montana.org or 406-224-3920.