CASA, arts council among local recipients of challenge grants

The Prudential Foundation, an independent not-for-profit grant-making organization funded by Prudential Financial, has given $7,000 in challenge grants to seven not-for-profit organizations in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Charleston and Perryville. Prudential Financial holds its Global Volunteer Day as a way to involve the company's employees with their communities.

Prudential team member Crystal Burress was instrumental in earning grants for the Jackson High School choral department and Job's Daughters International, Bethel No. 60, each for $1,000. For the Global Volunteer Day, the choral department performed at the Missouri Veterans Home on Veterans Day. Burress also earned a $1,000 challenge grant for United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, St. Henry School in Charleston by participating in beautification of a local park.

Corporate volunteerism provides economic value for not-for-profit organizations and benefits beyond the one Global Volunteer Day event.

For instance, Prudential employee Sharon Stanley earned a $1,000 challenge grant for the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts Inc. for use in a summer arts festival. It is the sixth consecutive year Stanley has helped enable the arts council to fund the event. Another $1,000 challenge grant was earned for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Missouri Inc. as a result of work with the Prudential Cares About Foster Children program.

Two charitable Perryville agencies, Perry County School District No. 32 Foundation for the Early Childhood Center and the Regional Family Crisis Center, each received $1,000 grants as a result of the efforts of team members David Rudert and Bernie Schnurbusch.

Prudential Financial's Global Volunteer Day began in 1995 as a way to involve employees with their local communities. It has grown from 5,000 participants into an important Prudential Financial tradition with more than 30,000 individuals making a difference in communities worldwide.

Prudential Financial supports ongoing community programs throughout the year. The Prudential CARES Volunteer Grants Program recognizes current and retired employees who give back to their community through volunteering. The organizations where they volunteer are awarded a grant.

For more information, visit www.prudential.com or contact the local office.