Thursday was a historic day for the Union Community Foundation.

For the first time ever, the foundation was able to award grants.

“This represents community giving back to the community,” said Union Community Foundation Treasurer Bob Love.

The first grant — in the amount of $500 — was awarded to the Union County Carnegie Library. Jennifer Tazerouti — a member of the library’s board of trustees — accepted the award. According to the library’s interim director, the majority of the grant money will go toward the purchase of books.

“We are honored to have been the first to receive a grant from the foundation,” the interim director said.

Tazerouti stated the award amount might as well have had an exponent beside it because books purchased for the library will be checked out and reused by library patrons.

“That is a very powerful $500,” Tazerouti said.

The second grant — also $500 — was awarded to the Union County YMCA.

YMCA Executive Director Scott Sandor accepted the grant and stated the money would be used for the Partners with Youth campaign which offers financial assistance to youth in the community participating in after-school, summer camp and daycare programs. Sandor also mentioned that about 80 percent of youth involved in these programs qualify for financial assistance.

“We give away around $60,000 every year in services and typically raise about $12,000 to offset the cost,” he said.

The Union Community Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the development of a community tradition of philanthropy. The foundation works to generate funds that can be used to support local organizations engaged in community improvement efforts and providing assistance to the people of Union County.

The founding board members of the foundation were appointed by Union City Council, and the foundation was endowed with $ 1 million from the city. The funds were allocated from an insurance settlement the city received when the old Union High School was destroyed by a fire. The board members serve seven-year staggered terms — with one member rotating off every year.

Each replacement is appointed by the board.

Foundation secretary Robbie Littlejohn gave an example of possible donations to the foundation, using the idea of scholarships from past graduating classes of former schools.

“People who graduated from Sims High, Jonesville High or Lockhart High could establish scholarships in those schools’ names,” he said.

The Union Community Foundation would manage that scholarship money and receive a small percentage for doing so.

Foundation treasurer Bob Love stated the Spartanburg County Foundation started in the 1940s from one gift of $10,000, but manages over $100 million today.

The goal for Union’s foundation is to reach $5 million and start awarding grants regularly.

The original endowment to the Union Community Foundation was invested through the Spartanburg County Foundation which will manage the Union Community Foundation money during its development.

For more information about establishing a fund through the foundation, contact Chairman Emeritus William J. Whitener at (864) 427-2493.