The Wayne County Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently approved grant awards for the spring competitive grant cycle.File
The Wayne County Community Foundation Board of Trustees met in May and approved grant awards for the spring competitive grant cycle. Nineteen organizations were awarded grants totaling $404,685.45 from a variety of the foundation’s named community and field-of-interest funds:
—American Red Cross received a $10,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to provide critical relief and recovery services to Wayne County disaster survivors, as well as provide residents with lifesaving home fire-preparedness tools including free smoke alarms.
—ANIA Ice Inc. received a $50,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to replace the flooring in the Alice Noble Ice Arena lobby and rink apron areas.
—City of Orrville received a $25,000 grant from the Carl E. Congdon Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to purchase equipment for both the Orrville Police Department and the Orrville Fire Department. The police department seeks to purchase two drones to assist with search and rescue missions and surveillance support; two hours of training also is included. The fire department seeks to replace its 20-year-old rescue struts, which are used to stabilize vehicles involved in car accidents.
—Crown Hill Manor received a $21,532.18 grant from the John Kaylor Memorial Fund to repair the plumbing throughout the building, replacing 25-year-old plumbing that causes costly emergency repairs.
—Girls on the Run East Central Ohio received a $3,000 grant from the Ruth M. Tieche Community Fund to cover the purchase of 50 pairs of brand-new running shoes and 20 sports bras to be given to participants in their program who cannot afford these items.
—Healthcare 2000 DBA The Viola Startzman Clinic received a $20,000 grant from the Florence L. Rice Community Fund to help defray the costs of disposable dental supplies for its dental clinic, for which it does not receive reimbursement from Medicaid.
—Heartland Education Community received a $28,000 grant from the Carl E. Congdon Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to support the Heartland Education Community initiatives that benefit the youth and staff of Orrville City Schools including Character Education, STEAM programs, OHuddle mentoring, College and Career Readiness, English Learner support, health and wellness for students and staff, Orrview support, Community Calendar publishing, and extended learning with after-school and summer programs.
—Interlink Ministries Inc. received a $24,000 grant from an anonymous community fund to purchase food (emphasizing produce and other staple items) due to the shortage and quality of free food available at local food banks.
—Izaak Walton League of America, Wayne County Chapter received a $51,279.70 grant from the Lloyd W. James Memorial Fund, the Raymond and Pauline Croskey Memorial Fund, and the Jerry and Florence Shapiro Community Fund to support renovations to its clubhouse, to remove the old porch, build a new porch with ramp access and hand rails, and remodel the bathroom to allow for wheelchairs and people with disabilities to host public events and share the love of conservation with all people.
—Milton Township/Wayne County received a $13,732.12 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to purchase six automated external defibrillators so volunteer members have them available in their vehicles when arriving on scene first to provide lifesaving care to someone in cardiac arrest and also to provide updated AEDs for their fire trucks.
—New Destiny Treatment Center received a $25,000 grant from an anonymous community fund to upgrade 16 dorm rooms on the older side of the Long Dorm, where inpatient clients live and sleep after business hours for better therapeutic comfort, quality and safety. Renovations include drywall, flooring, wiring, lighting and more.
—Newbridge Place received a $20,000 grant from an anonymous community fund to support housing for Wayne County veterans with mental health disorders.
—OHuddle received a $15,500 grant from the Robert L. and Kathleen M. Polsky Foundation Community Fund to expand services to three new elementary mentorship sites in Rittman, Green (Smithville) and Waynedale through GrOHuddle, a partnership with the University of Akron matching junior and senior high school students with elementary mentees.
—Shreve Presbyterian Church received a $7,000 grant from the Helen A. Sprowls Charitable Fund for phase three of repairs including the kitchen ceiling, flooring, soffits and side walls due to flooding from a heavy rainstorm in 2023. The kitchen is a vital part of their outreach to the community.
—Smithville Community Historical Society received a $10,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund, designated for its Capital Campaign Fund, which supports the maintenance, upgrade and restoration of the thirteen historic buildings owned by the Smithville Community Historical Society.
—Society for Handicapped Citizens of Medina County Inc. (DBA The Society) received a $641.45 grant from the General Fund to purchase craft items, sensory items and a carpet cleaner to benefit individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in its Link-Wayne Day Program in Wooster.
—The University of Akron Wayne College received a $25,000 grant from the Carl E. Congdon Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to acquire essential nursing and lab equipment at Wayne College to support the new associate degree in nursing program and the growing student demand.
—VANTAGE Aging received a $5,000 grant from the John G. Taggert Community Fund to support at least 500 nutritious, home-delivered meals for Wayne County seniors through Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio.
—Village of Smithville received a $50,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to install two pickleball courts in Smithville Village Park, with fencing surrounding them and lighting on either side.
The WCCF is a not-for-profit, charitable organization established in 1978 to accept contributions, create and administer funds, and make grants for the benefit of the people of Wayne County. Since 1978 the foundation has awarded more than $121 million in the form of grants and scholarships from its 592 separate funds.
Community and field-of-interest funds permit the WCCF Board of Trustees to be responsive to the changing needs of the community. Donations to these funds by individuals, families, businesses and service organizations help to increase the amount available for grants each year. Contact Melanie Reusser Garcia, WCCF executive director, for more information.
Competitive grant applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations should be submitted by March 1 and Sept. 1 each year. The grant guidelines and online application are available at www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.
