GREEN BAY —The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation has become one of the great success stories in a town filled with success stories.

Established in 1991 to manage charitable funds and disburse grants to nonprofit agencies, the foundation has grown to the point where it awarded more than $9.5 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30, a 51 percent increase over the previous year.

More than 600 active funds administered by the foundation benefit nonprofits in the fields of arts and culture, the environment, community betterment, religion, children's and youth programming, human services, and health and wellness.

For fiscal year 2008, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation donors, who contributed some $14.5 million in all, aided 473 nonprofit organizations across Northeastern Wisconsin. That's one big engine of charitable giving.

"Through collaboration with the nonprofit community and co-investment with our fund clients, we have been able to significantly support long-term investments and ongoing efforts to strengthen our community," David Pamperin, president and chief executive officer, said in the foundation's announcement.

The most visible grants probably were those awarded through the U.S. Oil Open Fund for Basic Needs Giving Partnership, an innovative collaboration between U.S. Oil and the J.J. Keller Foundation that produced $600,000 in grants for new programs aimed at providing better dental care for children in low-income families and coordinating local services for homeless people.

The Greater Green Bay area has always done things in a big way, especially when it comes to serving neighbors who can use a helping hand. This foundation is yet another example of the generosity and compassion of Northeastern Wisconsin residents.