Community organizations that provide historical, charitable or educational programs and services to help sustain the quality of life in Boron submitted grant applications to the Foundation Board of Directors earlier this year. The Foundation Directors evaluated funding requests and grants were awarded to the following programs.

• Boron Garden Club - $100 to plant trees in Core Park.
• Boron High School Book Scholarship Program - $500 for textbook purchases for Boron High School graduating senior who continues his or her education in a two- or four-year college or trade school.
• Boron Pre-Kindergarten Program - $750 to fund a two-week summer program designed to prepare children for kindergarten.
• Boron Senior Citizens Center - $250 to support a food and recreation program for area seniors.
• West Boron Elementary CampKEEP Foundation - $500 to fund sixth grade students attending an annual environmental camp.
• Boron Branch of the Kern County Library - $750 to purchase children's books in support of literacy programs.
• Twenty Mule Team Museum - $500 to produce a new display celebrating the area's unique heritage.
• West Boron Elementary - $1,260 to fund a field trip for middle school students at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center.

The Borax Visitor Center Foundation includes, Muroc Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Bertha Boullion; Field Representative to Supervisor Steve Perez, Don Maben; Boron Chamber of Commerce President James Welling; I.L.W.U., Local #30 President, Jim Bates; U.S. Borax Boron Operations General Manager, Doug Batchelor; U.S. Borax Communities Manager, Betty Peters; and Boron Operations Community Affairs Officer, Nancy LaMoureaux.

In addition to the annual Grant Program, the Foundation also awards two $500 scholarships to graduating Boron High School seniors. Applications and information will be available at the high school beginning April 1.

Since opening in October 1997, the Visitor Center has had more than 33,000 local, national and international guests. Gate fees are minimal and Borax employees and students on organized school field trips are admitted free. The Visitor Center is open seven days a week from 9:00 to 5:00, excluding major holidays.

Borax is a division of London-based Rio Tinto, the worlds' largest mining concern. Borax ships approximately one million tons of refined borates from its mining and refining operation in Boron, California, to customers in nearly 100 countries. Borates are naturally occurring minerals - essential to plant growth, part of a healthy human diet, and key ingredients in the manufacture of glass, fiberglass, ceramics, detergents, fertilizers, wood preservatives and many other products.

The Borax mine in California is one of two world-class deposits of borates on the planet. The global company employs more than 1,600 people worldwide.