Community Foundation Announces New Grant Opportunities Benefiting Youth Athletics and Performing Arts; First Application Period Opens May 15

Courtney MuseDustin MuseFREDERICK, MD: May 11, 2011: The Community Foundation of Frederick County announces two new grant opportunities, available through The Dustin and Courtney Muse Memorial Fund, one of more than 600 Community Foundation component funds.

The Dustin Muse Youth Athletic Grant will be awarded to athletic and sports organizations and The Courtney Muse Performing Arts Grant will be awarded to performing arts organizations. Both grants benefit Frederick County youth under the age of 18 and may support the purchase of equipment, capital improvements or purchases, or participation fee subsidies for youth. All grant applicants must be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, an existing government agency that is not funded by tax revenue, or a Frederick County Public School athletic or arts program.

The grants have three application periods throughout the year: May 15 through June 30 with grants awarded in July; August 15 through September 30 with grants awarded in October; December 15 through January 31 with grants awarded in February. Click here to view the applications.

Sixteen-year-old Dustin Muse was a well-known and highly-regarded scholar-athlete at Governor Thomas Johnson High School when he and his thirteen-year-old sister, Courtney, an enthusiastic member of the Monocacy Middle School chorus and honor roll student, tragically died in a car accident in December 2006.

“Dustin and Courtney’s love and enthusiasm for the sports and music activities they participated in continues to guide us in our desire to provide financial help,” said Pam Meehan, Dustin and Courtney’s mother. “Through these grants, we will help nonprofit athletic and performing arts organizations with equipment and capital improvement needs, and provide participation fee subsidies for students.”

In support of the fund, the Dustin and Courtney Muse Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, June 17, 2011 at the Musket Ridge Golf Club in Myersville, MD. Those interested in participating and/or sponsoring the event should visit www.musememorial.com.

Memorial funds are one of the many ways The Community Foundation of Frederick County transforms the unique charitable dreams of individuals, families and organizations into the reality of charitable funds supporting a range of worthy causes.  Over one-fourth of the funds held by the Community Foundation honor the memories of deceased loved ones by continuing to touch lives in meaningful ways.  To date, the Community Foundation has provided more than $26 million in scholarships and grants throughout Frederick County.   For additional information about the Community Foundation, please call 301.695.7660.