The Denton Benefit League awarded grants to 40 area nonprofit organizations Monday.

The league raises money primarily through an annual charity ball, but also stages a table setting demonstration, “Sensational Settings,” by teams of volunteers from nonprofits.

The league distributed $241,661.65 to the organizations at a ceremony held at the Center for the Visual Arts, 400 E. Hickory St.

“I am so excited and proud that, even in these times of an economic downturn, the Denton Benefit League can continue to make a difference to many well-deserving, local nonprofit organizations,” said league president Kayla Swenson.

The top grant winners were: The Nelson Children’s Residential Treatment Center, with an $18,867 grant for 60 children’s beds; and Habitat for Humanity of Denton County, with a  $14,500 grant for a diesel box truck for ReStore, formerly Bart’s Barn. 

Sandra Monclova, office manager for ReStore, said the agency is planning to purchase a used truck through Penske.

“It’s our delivery truck,” Monclova said. “The one we were using was getting to the point where it was a real hassle to maintain it. It had come to the point where it was too expensive to maintain.”

The agency plans to get the truck as soon as this week. The truck will be used to pick up and deliver home improvement materials and appliances that donors give to ReStore. The agency sells the items at ReStore, located at 1721 N. Carroll Blvd. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity, which builds modest, interest-free homes for low-income families using volunteer labor.

“We thank God for organizations like this [Denton Benefit League],” Monclova said. “They help us help others.”

Other major grant recipients included: Abused Children Protection Fund Inc., with an $11,731.75 grant for visitation room furniture; Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, with a $10,531.72 grant to replace a roof; Denton Festival Foundation Inc., with a $10,000 grant for rental equipment and generators for the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival; Denton Friends of the Family Inc., with a $11,634 grant for kitchen counters and cabinets; Interfaith Ministries of Denton Inc., with a $12,500 grant for school supply kits for elementary and middle school students; and Kiwanis Club Children’s Clinic Inc., with $10,000 grant for medical and dental treatment and prescriptions for children of low-income families.

For more information about the Grant Allocations Program, visit www.dentonbenefitleague.org.

The league has served the community for 37 years, focusing on working up to 30,000 volunteer hours a year. The league’s members support nonprofit organizations in the areas of community and social services, education, culture and local history.

The league serves both as a group and through the volunteerism of its members. As an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization with no paid volunteers, members’ dues fund administrative expenses. Net proceeds from fundraisers are granted to area nonprofits. 

OTHER GRANT RECIPIENTS

AIDS Services of North Texas Inc. — $3,771.72 for computer upgrades

American National Red Cross, Dallas Area Chapter — $2,019.98 for two laptop computers

Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas — $2,187.26 for two laptops

Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County Inc. — $2,400 for Denton facility utility payments

Denton animal shelter — $6,190 for records management software

Denton Public Library — $7,625 for 61 microfilm rolls at $125 each for Denton Record-Chronicle issues from 1960 to 1969

Communities in Schools of North Texas Inc. — $1,117.78 for 5,000 two-page brochures and 250 mentor workbooks

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Denton County — $4,333.79 for equipment for a new volunteer training room

Day Stay for Adults Inc. — $4,563 for a video surveillance system

Denton Christian Pre-school Inc. — $9,412 for a copy machine and two bus tires

Denton City Contemporary Ballet — $1,078.75 for Web development

Denton City County Day School — $6,890 for kitchen improvements

Denton Community Food Center — $7,053.70 for lobby tile, food and pantry needs

Denton Community Theatre — $4,146 for black box theater lights

Denton County Historical Commission — $1,928.60 for a dry mount press and accessories for county museums

Denton County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center — $4,270.54 for motel rooms and client respite care

Denton Holiday Festival Association Inc. — $980.94 for mailboxes 

Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International Inc. — $9,200 for a tool trailer

Greater Denton Arts Council Inc. — $3,125 for shades for Festival Hall at the Center for the Visual Arts

Greater Denton Arts Council Inc. — $4,350 for a key card entry system for the Campus Theatre

Metroport Meals on Wheels Inc. — $4,000 for meals and containers

Music Theatre of Denton — $1,049.94 for a computer and monitor

People’s Clinic of Denton County Inc. — $4,691.97 for a refrigerator, two hard drives, an internal tape drive and a copy machine

Riding Unlimited Inc. — $6,000 for indoor arena lighting

Salvation Army — $5,388.96 for two washing machines and dryers

Seniors in Motion Inc. — $3,437 for a leg press and shuttle system upgrade

Special Olympics Texas Inc. — $8,803.30 food and gas for winter and spring trips

Tejas Storytelling Association — $5,635 for site rental

The ARC of Denton County — $2,440 for prom for adults with disabilities

The Denton Humane Society Inc. — $3,500 for the spay-neuter program

The Festival Ballet of North Central Texas Inc. — $2,628.90 for trans-Atlantic airline tickets for three guest artists for The Nutcracker

Texas Woman’s University School of Arts — $1,440 for performance rights

University of North Texas — $6,238.05 for books for children of low-income families