MOUNT VERNON – Five area nonprofits received competitively awarded grants this month as part of the Giving BACK Tuesday program, according to a press release.

The winners, whittled down from 10 nominees, were Centerburg Senior Services, Giving Hope Charity, Habitat for Humanity of Knox County, Knox County Task Force for Older Adults and MTVarts.

In late 2021, the Knox County Foundation celebrated Giving Tuesday by asking individuals to help them give back to local organizations serving the community through their own Giving BACK Tuesday.

The social media campaign, which started on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, and ran through Tuesday, Dec. 14, gave people the opportunity to nominate their favorite Knox County 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to receive one of five small grants. Ten organizations were nominated through the Knox County Foundation’s social media outlets.

The Foundation’s Grants Committee then narrowed down the nominations and selected five organizations to receive a small grant in 2022. 

“This was the first year we hosted Giving BACK Tuesday and we are hopeful to continue this campaign, or something similar, every year to celebrate Giving Tuesday and honor our nonprofits that work year-round to serve the community,” said Lisa Lloyd, program director.

All five winners will work with the Foundation to determine a project and program for which the grants funds can be utilized this year. Additionally, while not selected to receive the Giving BACK Tuesday grants, all nominees are encouraged to work with the Foundation to submit a grant application through its regular competitive grant process.