BLOCK WATCH SUCCESS FUELS FUND DRIVE
Byline: By Ryan Konig, Staff writer
It helped organize a citywide party for the cost of a single wedding reception. Now it
wants to find out what it can do with a few dollars more.
The Phoenix Block Watch Advisory Board is working to raise money for neighborhood programs, including next year's National Night Out, an annual celebration of neighborhood Block Watches.
This year's celebration, held a few weeks ago, reportedly involved dozens of neighborhoods and thousands of residents who participated in block parties and other events.
The advisory board helped to organize the celebration, and buy gifts for children, on a $3,000 budget.
The advisory board, founded about eight years ago to teach neighborhoods to reduce crime, is staffed by volunteers and rarely has had any money to work with.
Richard Fox, the president of the advisory board, is trying to change that. ''The main thing we could do with money is offer a minigrant program to help neighborhood organizations,'' Fox said.
''We have found that to be very successful.''
The advisory board ran a minigrant program last year, when it received $4,200 from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
The money was divided up and awarded to five Block Watches to fund neighborhood programs to fight drugs, gangs and other crime problems. ''Putting even a small amount of money into the hands of a neighborhood organization is very effective in helping to improve a community,'' Fox said.
The board is working with neighborhood groups, schools and churches to promote the fund-raising campaign.