Alabama

Rebecca Byrne, executive director of United Way of Baldwin County, will become the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of South Alabama in Mobile, effective March 10, Al.com reports. Byrne had been a candidate in a national search conducted by the community foundation in 2011 that led to the selection of Alvertha Penny, who resigned in February. Byrne is married to Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Montrose).

California

The Fresno Regional Foundation will award up to $205,000 in grants through its 2014 Youth Grant Cycle, the Business Journal reports. Grants totaling $100,000 will be awarded to organizations in Madera, Tulare, Merced, Mariposa and Kings counties working to help children up to age 8 succeed in school, while the remaining $105,000 will be awarded to organizations that run college readiness, access, and attendance programs in Dinuba, Cutler, Orosi, Orange Cove, Parlier, and Reedley. Letters of intent must be submitted to the foundation by April 16 at 5:00 p.m.

The Marin Community Foundation has appointed Larry Best as it new program director for arts and culture and social justice and interfaith understanding.

Ohio

The Columbus Foundation has announced five grants totaling $253,000 to organizations working to strengthen the central Ohio region. Awards include $85,000 to the Health Collaborative of Greater Columbus, which aims to reduce the infant mortality rate in the region by 40 percent by 2020; $75,000 to the Ohio State University Foundation in support of a program that serves pregnant and parenting women in poverty in three communities; and $20,000 to the Urban Land Institute for a study of regional growth scenarios.

Vermont

The Vermont Community Foundation in Middlebury has announced that it will fund new or existing projects, programs, and organizations serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities in the state through the Samara Fund. To date, the fund has awarded more than $600,000 to organizations and projects in support of its mission to create a vibrant LGBTQ community in Vermont. Applications for grants of up to $5,000 will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on April 1. 

Washington

The Seattle Foundation has announced that its president and CEO, Norman B. Rice, who is retiring later this year, has been named the 2014 recipient of the Seattle-King County First Citizen Award, which recognizes individuals whose community leadership, volunteerism, and civic engagement have enhanced the region's quality of life. Rice served as mayor of Seattle from 1990 to 1997. His wife, Dr. Constance W. Rice, received the award in 1993.

Wisconsin

The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation has announced a campaign to raise $300,000 to enable the Oshkosh police department to purchase a mobile command unit that will help improve community safety and communications. Equipped with state-of-the-art communications technology, the 36-foot vehicle will be used as a command post at crime scenes or natural disasters, and for neighborhood outreach efforts. Currently, the department competes with seven police agencies for use of Winnebago County's emergency management vehicle.