Local charities given Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funds

The projects which were allocated Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grants May 10 included the Fallbrook Center for the Arts, the Fallbrook Historical Society, Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths, and Camp Pendleton Rotary.

A 5-0 San Diego Board of Supervisors vote provided $29,000 to the Fallbrook Center of the Arts for various improvements, $25,000 to the Fallbrook Historical Society for costs to restore the Reche Schoolhouse, $25,000 to assist REINS with the construction of a new barn, and $3,750 for the Pendleton Rotary Community Service fund to purchase children's books.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program is intended to provide grants to non-profit organizations for the furtherance of public purposes at the regional and community levels. In addition to non-profit organizations, county supervisors can also fund schools and fire departments, and supervisors can also use money from their budgets to supplement other county funding for specific county projects such as parks, roads, and libraries.

Each county supervisor recommends the allocation of his or her Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funds, although those allocations must be approved by a majority of the board. The grants to the Greater Fallbrook organizations were from the District Five budget of Supervisor Bill Horn.

The Fallbrook Center for the Arts was founded in 1996 and serves both as a museum with rotating exhibits and as an educational facility which provides workshops and other education to artists of various ages and skill levels.

"The Fallbrook Center for the Arts is such a great asset to the community, offering international visual art exhibitions and artistic workshops," said Horn.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grant will go toward the purchase and installation of computer hardware and software to improve the arts center's website, the refurbishment of the 103 S. Main Avenue building and its walkways, the acquisition of a new computer and reception area furnishings, a glass kiln, and tools and supplies.

Fallbrook Center for the Arts, Inc., also operates the Fallbrook School of the Arts at 310 E. Alvarado St. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Funding will also allow for installation of energy-efficient lighting and improvements to the drainage gates and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at that facility.

The Fallbrook Historical Society was chartered as a non-profit organization in 1976 and is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of Fallbrook area history and artifacts. The organization, consisting entirely of volunteers, also provides research facilities for historians and genealogical inquiries and tours for school children. Its historical collections also make the Fallbrook Historical Society a destination for tourists.

Last year, the Reche Community Club, whose sole purpose is to preserve the Reche Schoolhouse originally constructed in 1886, and the Fallbrook Historical Society approved a merger. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program allocation will fund costs associated with restoring the interior and the exterior of the Reche Schoolhouse building, including the electrical system.

"I love history, and I am thankful for the work the Fallbrook Historical Society does collecting, preserving, and displaying artifacts from the Fallbrook area," said Horn. "This $25,000 grant will help restore the Reche Schoolhouse, which is a favorite building of mine."

REINS provides therapeutic horseback riding to physically and mentally disabled children and adults. The horse's motion exercises the rider's muscles and increases the mobility of the pelvis, hips, and spine. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program money will be used to construct a new barn, including tree removal, grading, plumbing, lighting, and feeders, as well as the barn structure itself.

"The $25,000 grant will help cover costs and labor associated with constructing a new barn for them to ensure safety and expand their services in the community," said Horn of the donation to REINS.

The Marine Corps dependents of Camp Pendleton soldiers include approximately 9,200 children of pre-school age. A new building in the Horno area of the base offers space and a loading dock to receive pallet-size shipments and to store and distribute large numbers of books to organizations located on the base. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program allocation will provide approximately 9,000 children's books.

"I think this is fantastic," said Horn. "I'm a Marine and my District 5 military families are very important to me. I also know the power of books and reading."