Youth Foundation Awards Over $20,000 in Grants

The Wayne County Community Youth Foundation (WCCYF) provides educational and practical experiences on how community foundations operate, with the goal of getting high school students engaged in local “structured” philanthropy. Each year, student participants in the program also award grants from the Wayne County Community Youth Foundation Fund to local nonprofit organizations that support youth programs.

Student advisors evaluated sixteen grant proposals for the 2025 grant cycle. Based on their recommendations to the Wayne County Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, eight organizations received grants totaling $20,300:

Anazao Community Partners received a $5,000 grant to support Good Friend Toolkits, facilitator expenses, promotional materials, and student training to empower youth as mental health influencers.

Catholic Charities received a $500 grant to create a home visit kit with crafts and other adaptive resources, improving the quality and effectiveness of the respite care and teaching experience for youth with developmental disabilities.

Orrville Area United Way received a $1,000 grant to purchase supplies and materials, including bedding and wood, to build beds for children in Dalton, Kidron, Marshallville, North Lawrence, and Orrville who do not have proper beds.

People to People Ministries received a $2,000 grant to buy Christmas presents for youth from low income families, including Lego's, STEM Toys, Art Sets, Nerf Guns, Pajamas, Basketballs, Sports Equipment and popular books, like Diary of a Wimpy kid, and Dog Man, etc.

Stirrup Courage received a $800 grant to add carts and harness equipment to fit various sizes of equine to their program, to broaden accessibility for differently abled children and youth to participate in the horse-riding programs.

United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties, Inc. received a $1,000 grant for Reading Under the Lights to purchase books for children to select and keep when attending the program, and to read over the summer to prevent decline in reading skills that tends to happen over summer break.

Wooster Community Hospital Foundation received a $5,000 grant to promote infant safety by ensuring new mothers receive safe sleep education from nursing staff and pediatricians, and to encourage the use of sleep sacks at home for their babies.

YMCA of Wayne County received a $5,000 grant to provide 4 and 5-year olds at the "Y Academy for Brighter Futures" (childcare center) with access to enriching activities and experiences they might not otherwise have.

The Youth Foundation meets once a month at an area nonprofit organization during the school year to get a better understanding of why the organization exists and how it serves the community. Participants also gain valuable leadership experience, learn more about local charitable giving and how investments grow charitable funds; evaluate and recommend grant awards, and meet local philanthropic leaders.

For the 2024-2025 school year, 25 students representing nine local high schools participated in the Youth Foundation. A program graduation was held on May 4, 2025 at The Connection Conference & Event Center.

Competitive grant applications to the WCCYF from nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations serving the youth of Wayne County should be submitted by February 1 each year. The grant guidelines and online application are available on the WCCF website, www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org.