Women’s Fund awards more than $50,000 in 2025 grants to support women and girls in Wayne County

The Wayne County Community Foundation announced the 2025 grant awards from The Women’s Fund totaling $50,075.84. The Women's Fund was established to impact the lives of women and children in Wayne County by directing resources to organizations that support the education of women and empower change and self-sufficiency.

Based on the evaluations and recommendations from The Women’s Fund Advisory Committee, the WCCF Board of Trustees approved the following grant awards:

—Boys & Girls Club of Wooster received a $1,575.84 grant to implement two six-week SMART Girls program cohorts of girls-only sessions (age 10-12) that build physical and mental health, self-esteem, healthy relationships, and lifestyle habits through evidence-based curriculum, trained staff and evaluation.

—Girls on the Run East Central Ohio received a $2,500 grant to provide financial assistance for girls to participate in GOTR in Norwayne, Northwestern, Rittman, Triway and Wooster City Schools for spring 2026.

—Healthcare 2000, DBA The Viola Startzman Clinic, received a $24,000 grant to expand affordable women’s health services by providing contraception (IUDs and implants), STI testing, and treatment and preventive wellness care to women in Wayne County who otherwise could not access essential care.

—OHuddle received a $10,000 grant to establish new asset-based programming related to vocational development and healthy relationship programming to support female youth and parents living below the poverty line.

—OneEighty Inc. received a $12,000 grant to fund evidence-based programming in all of Wayne County public schools that educates and supports adolescents developing healthy relationships and lifestyles free from violence.

Since its inception in 2013, The Women’s Fund has awarded over $292,745 to benefit women in Wayne County.

The Women’s Fund grant guidelines and online application are available at www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org. Competitive grant applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations that benefit women within the greater Wayne County area should be submitted by Sept. 1 each year.

Donations to provide greater future grant opportunities can be made to The Women’s Fund, a component fund of WCCF, by individuals, families, businesses and service organizations. Contact Melanie Reusser Garcia, WCCF executive director, for more information.