Communities Foundation of Texas, which opened its Collin County office in October in Frisco, awarded $40,000 in grants to CASA of Collin County and ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship during the office's grand opening celebration Feb. 12.

The grants are intended to help Mane Gait and CASA continue their services in the community.

Both grants were provided through Communities Foundation's Collin County fund, which is awarded to nonprofits whose services benefit the Collin County area.

CASA of Collin County provides advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system. The grant funds will be used to recruit and train child advocates, said Dave Scullin, Communities Foundation of Texas president and CEO.

ManeGait provides horse therapy for children and adults with neurological impairments. The grant funds will be used for the GaitWay to the Brain program, which guides participants through a series of exercises to stimulate underused parts of the brain to help improve focus. The program works in conjunction with therapeutic riding.

"While we are thrilled for those two organizations, this is just the first of many for a long, long time," Scullin said. "There is so much more to do, and there are so many needs in this community, this county that is growing rapidly."

Communities Foundation is known for hosting North Texas Giving Day, an 18-hour annual giving event that benefits local nonprofits. Last year, North Texas Giving Day raised more than $5 million for 334 Collin County nonprofits.

Since 2006, Communities Foundation has awarded more than 4,000 grants totaling more than $51 million.

The organization's new office is located at 2401 Internet Blvd., Ste. 101.