The Evanston Community Foundation brought donors and grant recipients together this morning for a breakfast meeting at which the group handed out nearly $172,000 in grants, up 7.6 percent from last year.

Representatives of each of the 23 groups receiving grants got a chance to briefly describe their programs -- and leave the podium at the King Home session with a check in hand.

Programs in the arts and community development and providing support for families and children, youth and education were among those receiving grants.

Grants ranged in size from $12,500 for the Youth Job Center to $750 for the Evanston School Children's Clothing Association.

The biggest donation to fund the grants came from Northwestern University's Dance Marathon, which provided just over a quarter of the money distributed.

More information about the Evanston Community Foundation is available on the group's website.