Wickenburg history groups receive major support

[Source: Wickenburg Sun] -- The Wellik Foundation, a support organization of the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), recently awarded $348,313 to Wickenburg organizations through a competitive grant process facilitated by ACF. Grants were made to 13 qualified public charities or tax-supported public entities in Wickenburg. All grants distributed from the Wellik Foundation serve residents of Wickenburg and the vicinity.

The Wellik Foundation was established by the late Viola Wellik, who wanted to preserve the values and traditions of small-town culture in Wickenburg. In 1998, she established a support foundation at ACF to benefit the residents of her Wickenburg community and the surrounding area. Her bequest resulted in a significant philanthropic endowment -- the Wellik Foundation, to ensure the community has a continuous source of funding to help address current and emerging community needs.

Wellik had many interests that included historic preservation, public art, education, and child and youth development. In addition, preserving the area's ranching and mining heritage as well as the desert environment were important to her.

History-related groups receiving grants in 2005 include:

• Desert Caballeros Western Museum, $75,000
• Nature Conservancy of Arizona, $43,000
• Wickenburg Historical Preservation Society, $100,000