A spokesman for The Daron and Ron Barness Family Foundation in Scottsdale said it is temporarily ceasing operations at the end of the month, a casualty of the recession.
"Ron Barness is in the commercial real estate business, and we've been feeling the pinch for a while," said the foundation's executive director, Frank Jacobson, who also said that since its 2005 inception the foundation has granted several million dollars to scores of nonprofit organizations in the Valley.
In the past three years, about 200 nonprofit organizations have applied for foundation grants. Jacobson said that about 70 percent of the foundation's grants have gone to Jewish organizations.
"When housing slows," Jacobson said, "commercial real estate projects slow, and when the banking industry isn't lending the money the way it did before, that impacts businesses and people. Few, if any, people have ever witnessed anything like what we're seeing now."
All organizations that have received multiyear grants and have outstanding pledges from the foundation "have received a personal letter from Ron and Daron saying that all pledges will be honored, but the timing is the issue," said Jacobson, who will leave the foundation at the end of December.
One organization that is in the middle of a multiyear grant from the foundation is the Jewish National Fund. Ted Kort, regional director of the JNF in Phoenix, said the foundation's pledge for 2008 has been paid.
"I was very surprised (to receive the letter from the Barnesses) and saddened to hear they are closing the foundation, because the family has been a tremendous supporter of JNF and Israel for a long time."
For questions about the foundation after Dec. 31, call Ron Barness' assistant, Shirl Miner, at 480-365-1259. The Web site, barnessfoundation.com, will remain operational.
