Most people don't like to confront their problems, but Community Foundation of Jackson County has been doing just that despite less than pleasing economic conditions.

"It's clear that you are not giving up, but you're confronting your problems," 9th District Rep. Baron Hill, D-Seymour, told those on hand Tuesday for the foundation's annual Report to the Community.

The foundation, which has more than 150 endowments in place to award grants and scholarships, said Trina Tracy, its newly elected chairman of the board, presented grants totaling more than $66,000 Tuesday.

"That's impressive," Hill said.

Hill said he believed everyone in the audience was aware of the importance of their work and added difficult financial times make that work even more important.

He said 2009 is going to be a challenging year, just like 2008.

"Just keep on trying," Hill said.

After Hill's talk, the foundation's president and chief executive officer, C.W. "Bud" Walther, distributed $66,460 in grants to local organizations.

"This is the fun part," Walther said.

Tuesday's grants were just part of the total of $286,000 in grants and scholarships awarded by the foundation, which was established in 1992. The organization has awarded $1.5 million in grants during the past five years.

The largest recipients included Boys & Girls Club of Seymour, which received $29,391; Girls Inc. of Jackson County, which received $8,614; and Zion Lutheran Church, Seymour, which received $7,730.

He added it also was fun to sit down and talk with people about the types of endowments they want to create.

Grant recipients

Other grant recipients were Jackson County United Way, $3,076; Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department, $328; Humane Society of Jackson County, $430; Brownstown Presbyterian Church, $1,124; Southern Indiana Center for the Arts, $569; Jackson County Industrial Development Corp., $3,520; Indiana 4-H Foundation, $1,000; Cana United Methodist Church, $1,867; Jackson County Public Library, $999; Jackson County Historical Society, $402; Community Provisions Inc., $223; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County, $235; Surprise United Methodist Church (for Pleasant Hill Cemetery), $2,801; and Whites Chapel United Methodist Church (for Whites Chapel United Methodist Church cemetery), $2,801.