This year’s grant-making focus for the Wayne County Community Foundation’s GIVE 365 program was “Community Wellness and Success: Creating a supportive environment where everyone can flourish together.” In May the Wayne County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved GIVE 365 members’ grant recommendations totaling $26,500 to five nonprofit organizations:
—$2,500 to Boys & Girls Club of Wooster for Healthy for Me, a program enhancement of Project CHOP, an interactive nutrition and food education program that integrates hands-on learning experiences, allowing youth to engage directly with local farmers, learn about food sourcing and participate in guided cooking sessions.
—$2,000 to Friendship Meals Inc. to purchase food and to-go containers for the meals they provide to those in need in the Orrville community.
—$12,500 to The Viola Startzman Clinic to provide community outreach and greater access to psychiatric mental health care to rural residents and families through community health workers by building relationships, increasing awareness, and providing mental and primary health care through telehealth services or in-person visits.
—$6,000 to OHuddle 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.
—$3,500 to The Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties to add telehealth capabilities to its day treatment services to provide mental health treatment to clients unable to attend at their facility, due to weather and other circumstances.
The grant process is the heart of the GIVE 365 program. Since it was established in 2016, over $161,300 has been awarded in 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 will begin 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 $1 a day or $365 a year. Their gifts, pooled with those of other donors, can make a greater impact in Wayne County. To learn how to become a member, call the foundation at 330-262-3877 or visit www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.
Since 1978 the Wayne County Community Foundation has been working to strengthen the community. It is a nonprofit, charitable organization. Since its inception WCCF has awarded over $121 million in grants and scholarships.
