COLUMBUS, OHIO – Nine local nonprofit organizations and a South African charity received $83,500 in funding in the latest round of grants from the Safelite Charitable Foundation, bringing the company’s total grants for the year to $234,000.

Created by Columbus-based Safelite AutoGlass as a way to help its associates affected by Hurricane Katrina, the 3-year-old 501(c) 3 organization has evolved into a community-based foundation with a focus on children’s charities.

The following central Ohio organizations received grants in September and October:

• Adventures for Wish Kids – $5,000
  

• Alicia Rose Foundation – $5,000
  

• Choices for Domestic Violence – $2,500
  

• Common Ground Free Store – $2,500
  

• Directions for Youth – $2,500
  

• Grange Audubon Center – $7,000
  

• Pleasure Guild of Children’s Hospital – $2,500
  

• Homeless Families Foundation – $1,000
  

• American Heart Association – $5,500

  An additional $50,000 was presented to MaAfrika Tikkum, a South African charity designated as the beneficiary of local Safelite associates’ participation in the London Triathlon in August. Safelite’s parent company, Belron S.A., has been a long-time supporter of MaAfrika Tikkum, an organization that assists disadvantaged and impoverished communities in South Africa.

  The donation to the Grange Audubon Center is part of a three-year commitment totaling $21,000. The foundation’s funding comes from Safelite and from employee donations.

  “Safelite associates have been generous about donating their money and their time to support organizations in our corporate hometown of Columbus,” said Randy Randolph, Safelite vice president of quality assurance and retail support and chairman of the Safelite Charitable Foundation. “We have associates serving at the board level of several local charities, an additional reflection of the company’s commitment to the community.”

  The Safelite Charitable Foundation is the non-profit subsidiary of Belron US, the parent company of Safelite AutoGlass, the nation’s leading provider of auto glass repair and replacement services with company-owned operations providing convenient mobile service to more than 90 percent of the U.S. drivers in all 50 states. Founded in 1947, it is the largest vehicle repair and replacement organization in the U.S., replacing more than 2.3 million pieces of auto glass each year.

  Community organizations can obtain grant information from the Safelite Charitable Foundation through the Web site, www.safelite.com. Click on Corporate Giving & Community Involvement to contact a member of Safelite’s community relations team.