The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has announced grants totaling more than $1.8 million to twenty-two Arizona nonprofits.

In the first of three annual funding rounds, the trust awarded grants totaling nearly $1.1 million to thirteen organizations working to provide medical and social services for homeless families and individuals, abuse prevention programs for children, elderly housing and healthcare support, and programs and services for disabled youth. In addition, the trust continued its support of education programs with grants totaling $579,000 to A Stepping Stone Foundation, Asian Pacific Community in Action, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, Educare Arizona, and Rosie's House: A Musical Academy for Children.

Other grants announced by the foundation include $45,000 to Friends of Saguaro National Park for environmental preservation programming; $62,500 to FACCS--Friends of Animal Care & Control for its Spay Neuter Assistance Program; and $54,000 to Experience Matters to provide its volunteer recruitment, training, and retention workshops at sixty local nonprofit organizations.

"With $1,618,500, or 88 percent of total grants awarded today, going to organizations assisting families in crisis, supporting housing and employment programs, enhancing healthcare and protective services, and providing educational opportunities for youth, the trust continues to fulfill a significant community role during these challenging economic times," said Edmund H. Portnoy, the trust's Arizona grants programs director. "Although things appear to be improving, the valley's nonprofit organizations are still experiencing a higher demand for basic need services, as well as continuing to provide programming under the strain of federal and state budget cuts."

For a complete list of grant recipients, visit the Pulliam Charitable Trust Web site.