The Orange Lions Club will again provide a limited number of mini grants to eligible community organizations and/or individuals in 2026.
The mini-grants program is intended to provide funds to worthy causes and activities in Orange that might not otherwise be funded, said Orange Lions Club President Dee Chamberlain.
“While we continue to provide funds to Lions blindness prevention programs, aid for the blind and eye research, which are long-time Lions Club priorities, we feel strongly that it is important to allocate funds to local projects as well,” she said.
Chamberlain emphasized that this funding is in addition to one college scholarship which the Orange Lions Club has awarded to Amity High School graduates from Orange for more than 50 years in conjunction with the Orange Scholarship Fund.
Chamberlain has appointed Mark Moyher of Orange to chair the community mini grants program this year. Blank applications to apply for mini grants are now available at the High Plains Community Center in the Community Services Department and at the Case Memorial Library.
“In addition to our ongoing commitment to fund anti-blindness programs and provide aid to those with sight problems, the Orange Lions feel that it is crucial to continue to use some of our fund-raising resources for local community-based projects and activities,” Moyher said. “While the amount we can give away in 2026 will be less than in recent years due to fewer fundraisers than last year, we Lions feel it is important to give back to our community in this meaningful way.”
Mini grants may be for as little as $100, or as much as $1,500. Completed applications are due no later than Tuesday, March 31. All Orange nonprofit clubs and related nonprofit organizations, individual Orange residents and Orange government entities are eligible to apply. The recipients of the mini grants will be announced by the Orange Lions Club in April and awarded in early May at a reception.