Foundation Announces Spring 2025 Community Grants

The Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF) 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 $10,000.00 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to provide critical relief and recovery services to Wayne Co. disaster survivors, as well as provide residents with lifesaving home fire preparedness tools, including free smoke alarms.

ANIA Ice Inc. received a $50,000.00 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 $25,000.00 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 Dept. seeks to purchase two drones to assist with search and rescue missions and surveillance support; two hours of training is also included. The Fire Dept. seeks to replace its existing, obsolete, 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 $3,000.00 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 essential items.

Healthcare 2000 DBA The Viola Startzman Clinic received a $20,000.00 grant from the Florence L. Rice Community Fund to help defray the costs of disposable dental supplies for their Dental Clinic in which they do not receive reimbursement for from Medicaid.

Heartland Education Community received a $28,000.00 grant from the Carl E. Congdon, Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to support the Heartland Education Community (HEC) initiatives that benefit the youth and staff of Orrville City Schools, including: Character Education, STEAM programs, OHuddle mentoring, College and Career Readiness, English Learner (EL) support, Health & Wellness for students and staff, Orrview support, Community Calendar publishing, and extended learning with After School and Summer programs.

Interlink Ministries Inc. received a $24,000.00 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 their 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 6 AEDs (automated external defibrillators) so that volunteer members have them available in their vehicles when arriving on scene first to provide life-saving care to someone in cardiac arrest and also to provide updated AEDs for their fire trucks.

New Destiny Treatment Center received a $25,000.00 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, etc.

Newbridge Place received a $20,000.00 grant from an anonymous community fund to support housing for Wayne County veterans with mental health disorders.

OHuddle received a $15,500.00 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 to expand services to reach an elementary school population without compromising the finite number of volunteer mentors available in a geographic region.

Shreve Presbyterian Church received a $7,000.00 grant from the Helen A. Sprowls Charitable Fund for phase III of needed repairs that include: 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 commuity.

Smithville Community Historical Society received a $10,000.00 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund designated for their 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 their Link-Wayne Day Program in Wooster.

The University of Akron Wayne College received a $25,000.00 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 (ADN) program and the growing student demand.

VANTAGE Aging received a $5,000.00 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 $50,000.00 grant from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to install 2 pickleball courts in Smithville Village Park, with fencing surrounding them and lighting on either side.

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 $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 September 1 each year. The grant guidelines and online application are available on their website, www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.