This year’s grant making focus for the Wayne County Community Foundation’s GIVE 365 program was Supporting Wayne County’s Most Vulnerable Citizens. In May, foundation trustees approved GIVE 365 members’ grant recommendations totaling $20,500 to four nonprofit organizations.
They are:
- $6,000 to OHuddleforOHuddle Resource Development and Safety Planning Softwareto upgrade safety software which houses youth and mentor information.
- $9,500 to Trinity United Church of Christ for the Breakfast Program Kitchen Initiative, for upgrades including the purchase of an electric convection oven for the kitchen.
- $3,500 to VANTAGE Aging for Serving More Than a Meal to provide support to Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio.
- $1,500 to Wayne County Volunteer Guardianship Association for Guardian Training and CLE for needed volunteer guardians for Wayne County’s most vulnerable.
Since it was established in 2016, over $141,500 has been awarded in GIVE 356 grants. Members submit ideas for an annual grant making theme; the ideas are posted online and decided by a majority vote of the membership. The grant application process is open to any nonprofit in Wayne County with a program or project that addresses the annual focus, with a grant application deadline of March 1.
A new cycle of GIVE 365 membership begins July 1. Membership is open to anyone who wants to make Wayne County a better place by combining their charitable contributions with others to support nonprofit organizations. Members pay a $1 a day – or $365 a year. To learn how to become a member, call 330-262-3877 or visit www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.
The Wayne County Community Foundation, created in 1978, has awarded over $112.8 million in grants and scholarships.
Youth Foundation awards presented total $5,500
The Wayne County Community Youth Foundation (YF) provides educational and practical experiences on how community foundations operate, with the goal of getting high school students engaged in local “structured” philanthropy. Each year, student participants award grants from the Wayne County Community Youth Foundation Fund to nonprofit organizations that support youth programs.
Grant recipients this year are:
IncludeAbility received a $600 grant to purchase two portable ramps to add to the lending library. Individuals with disabilities will be able to sign out the portable ramps for short periods of time to use as needed and return to IncludeAbility.
Rittman Middle School received a $1,300 grant to implement flexible seating, sensory tools, movement activities and other resources for special needs.
The Viola Startzman Clinic received a $2,000 grant to improve its dental clinic’s equipment by upgrading to digital imagery, patient-side computers and digital patient charting software.
Wayne Center for the Arts received a $1,600 grant to purchase equipment to host classes in beginner music appreciation and piano.
Earlier this year, this YF class collected $400 through the Giving Jar Initiative and matching donations. They donated the funds to the Wooster Youth Baseball Fund, a component fund of the Wayne County Community Foundation.
For the 2023-2024 school year, 35 students representing nine high schools participated in the Youth Foundation.
Competitive grant applications to the Wayne County Community Youth Foundation from nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations should be submitted by Feb. 1 each year. The grant guidelines and application are available at www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.
Spring community grants
The foundation trustees approved spring competitive grants for 29 organizations totaling $520,937.45. Recipients are:
Buckeye Authors' Book Fair Committee received a $6,000 grant from the Earle & Ann Klosterman Family Community Fund to facilitate a weeklong enrichment camp customized for students in grades three-eight, to address enhanced literacy skills and a deeper appreciation for book.
Christian Children's Home of Ohio received a $24,297 grant from the Florence L. Rice Community Fund to upgrade and renovate the kitchen in the little girls cottage, including cabinets, countertops, sink and garbage disposal.
City of Rittman received an $18,322 grant from the Andrew Berkey Fund and the Marjorie B. Newland Memorial Fund to replace the old Rittman city sign.
Dalton Community Historical Society received a $15,000 grant from an anonymous community fund to restore the Eagle Hotel & Tavern building.
Doylestown Community Food Cupboard received a $20,000 grant from the Robert L. & Kathleen M. Polsky Foundation Community Fund to add one commercial cooler and renovate the garage and pantry space.
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry received a $3,500 grant from the Harold W. Picking Charitable Fund to pay for processing of deer into ground venison. They donate the meat to food banks and ministries.
Girls on the Run East Central Ohio received a $5,000 grant from the Helen A. Sprowls Charitable Fund to provide financial assistance for girls ages 8-14 to participate in youth development programming from Norwayne, Triway, Wooster City, Chippewa, Rittman and Northwestern school districts.
Habitat for Humanity in Wayne County received a $50,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to help to build five homes while providing matching funds for other grants.
Innovated Opportunity received a $990 grant from the Jeanne Heise Adams Community Fund to purchase digital tablets.
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio received a $10,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to impact more than 1,900 students in Wayne County with financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programming.
Main Street Wooster, received a $2,975 grant from the Ruth M. Tieche Community Fund to hire an artist to design a utility box wrap that would be installed near the Lyric Theater as part of Main Street Wooster's initiative to procure artistic wraps for the 15 utility boxes in downtown.
OneEighty received a $25,000 grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation General Fund for one-time payments to help homeless individuals establish housing and to help those facing eviction to prevent homelessness.
Orrville City Schools received a $25,700 grant from the Carl E. Congdon, Jr. & Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to purchase supplies over three years for each building’s closet as well as a new large capacity washer and dryer for Orrville Middle School.
P. Graham Dunn Park received a $10,000 grant from the Robert L. & Kathleen M. Polsky Foundation Community Fund to purchase and plant 40 trees at the Silver Linden Park in Dalton.
Rails to Trails of Wayne County received a $10,000 grant from the Carl E. Congdon, Jr. & Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to offset construction cost increases for Closing the Gap between Allen Avenue in Orrville and Forrer Road on the Heartland Trail.
RePlay for Kids received a $2,686 grant from the Lloyd W. James Memorial Fund to partner with the Wayne County Public Library to establish an adapted toy lending program for children with disabilities.
The College of Wooster received a $25,000 grant from an anonymous community fund to help cover the cost for AMRE projects.
The Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties received a $50,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund for architectural fees to design a Mental Health Residential Treatment facility.
The Village Network received a $2,500 grant from the Charles R. & Henrietta Yenne Fund to provide pottery wheels for its art therapy program.
United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties received a $20,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to help cover the cost of the books children receive through the Wayne County Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
VANTAGE Aging received a $5,000 grant from the Edward, Arlene & Kaye Maibach Family Fund to replace kitchen and delivery equipment so Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio can continue to provide meals to Wayne County seniors.
Wayne County Historical Society received a $9,000 grant from the Margaret Hauenstein Memorial Fund and an anonymous community fund to help restore failing masonry, repoint bricks and repair damaged stonework of the Beall-Stibbs House.
Wayne County Schools Career Center-Aspire received a $7,590.45 grant from the Nolan & Elise Hite Community Fund to update and replenish its supply of laptops.
Wayne Growth Partnership received a $40,000 grant, over four years, from the Wayne County Community Foundation General Fund to help support business and workforce development and address barriers to growth. Current focus areas are childcare, workforce housing and workforce development.
West View Healthy Living received a $100,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to improve the lighting in the Carrington Memory Care Unit at West View Healthy Living.
Wooster City School District received a $2,500 grant from the Donald G. and Marjorie Pixley Beane Fund and the Albert "Koby" Kobilarcik Educational Fund to provide Pioneer Valley In Tandem literacy intervention resources to be used with K-4 students.
Wooster City School District received a $12,284 grant from the John Kaylor Memorial Fund for a Student Recognition Digital Display to be installed at Wooster High School to recognize past and present athletic, art and academic students’ accomplishments.
Wooster-Wayne Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution received a $1,830 grant from the Charles R. & Henrietta Yenne Fund to pay monument companies to install new Veterans Association headstones on patriots’ graves in Wayne County.
Zion Lutheran Church received a $15,763. grant from the Robert L. & Kathleen M. Polsky Foundation Community Fund to install double man-doors on a outbuilding so AAUW and Kiwanis can move pallets of used books to the book sale location at the fairgrounds.
Competitive grant applications should be submitted by March 1 and Sept. 1 each year. The grant guidelines and online application are available at www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.
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