WCCF Announces Fall 2024 Community Grants

The Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF) Board of Trustees met in November and approved grant awards for the Fall competitive grant cycle. Seventeen organizations were awarded grants totaling $393,979.28 from some of the Foundation’s named Community and Field of Interest funds:

American Heart Association, Inc. received an $11,180.00 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to address chronic disease management of hypertension by providing access to blood pressure monitoring equipment and education.

Apostolic Christian Home Inc. received a $75,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to purchase a backup generator that will allow for support of residents in the event of a power outage at their Aspen Square addition.  

Catholic Charities received a $10,000 grant from the Florence L. Rice Community Fund to support the new Rise Above program for at-risk youth in Wayne County and their parents.  

Green Local Schools received a $15,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to purchase and install a sun shade structure for the Green Elementary School playground.

IncludeAbility received a $26,1650 grant from the Lloyd W. James Memorial Fund to purchase evacuation chairs for Smithville, Dalton, and Northwestern school districts to help safely evacuate students with physical disabilities in the event of an emergency when elevators cannot be used.  

Joyful Enterprises, Inc. received a $2,250 grant from the Nolan and Elsie Hite Community Fund to purchase an electronic menu board for the Joyful Cafe.

Kidney Foundation of Ohio received a $2,500 grant from the Harold and Lois R. Freedlander Community Healthcare Fund to provide direct dollars to kidney patients to pay for prescription medications and nutritional supplements, transportation costs, and emergency necessities relating to health care for those with financial need.

Kidron Community Historical Society received a $60,000 grant from the Robert L. and Kathleen M. Polsky Foundation Community Fund to equip the Gerber-Nussbaum Bard with hadicap restrooms and a warm up kitchen, allowing the barn to be used as a community space for gatherings, concerts, weddings, and educational purposes.

National Inventors Hall of Fame, Inc. received a $10,000 grant from the Ruth M. Tieche Community Fund to support the Camp Invention: STEM Summer Program registration costs for as many as 37 underserved Wayne County children during summer 2025.

Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare received a $36,403.14 grant from an anonymous community fund for improvements to the Gault Inpatient Unit including the purchase of a new bath trolley, the construction of an outdoor pavilion, and the renovation of the kitchenette.

Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club received an $8,000 grant from the Carl E. Congdon, Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to purchase equipment for their maker space program area.

Pee Wee Hollow, Inc. received a $10,000 grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation General Fund to build two 12’x16’ pavilions to provide group shelter, construct a large 4’9” and 5/8” sign with the Pee Wee Hollow Map and camp information, renovate an existing storage shed, and repair the camp road.

People to People Ministries received a $2,000 grant from the Helen A. Sprowls Charitable Fund to support the Christmas Project to fill in the gaps for gifts for teens and the 6-11 age group.

The Salvation Army received a $16,996.14 grant from an anonymous community fund to support the purchase of new furniture within the shelter.

Wayne Center for the Arts received a $30,000 grant from an anonymous community fund to provide essential electrical upgrades to Wayne Center for the Arts’ historic building.

Wooster Community Hospital received a $75,000 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to help purchase twenty new Emergency Department patient stretchers/beds to enhance patient safety, comfort, and mobility.

Wooster Youth Shakespeare received a $3,500 grant from the Charles R. and Henrietta Yenne Fund to provide WooShakes scholarships to children from economically disadvantaged families in Wayne County.

The WCCF is a not-for-profit charitable community 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 $115 million in the form of grants and scholarships from its 560 separate funds. Its 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 September 1 each year. The grant guidelines and online application are available on their website, www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.