Swift Foundation seeks grant hopefuls

The Bessie Minor Swift Foundation is accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations in the Carson City area through Friday. Grants will be awarded to programs that promote literacy, reading and writing skills, and programs in the arts, languages and sciences.The foundation will consider applications for grants of a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $2,500. Decisions on grant recipients will be made by May 1.The foundation awards grants to organizations that help expansion of literacy programs for children who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading, and develop reading and writing skills at all age levels. The foundation also supports programs in the arts, languages and sciences for young people. More than $125,000 in grants has been awarded since 2008. The Bessie Minor Swift Foundation was formed by the owners and founder of Swift Communications, which owns the Nevada Appeal and nevadaappeal.com. Bessie Minor Swift was the mother of Philip Swift, the founder of Swift Communications. She was born in Onaga, Kan., on June 29, 1887, and raised in Kansas City, Mo. She taught school in a one-room schoolhouse in Blackburn, Mo. Swift recalled that the importance of education was reinforced throughout his upbringing not so much through statements or concrete expectations, but through the example of his mother’s interest in English, reading, history and music.