WCCF Announces 2025 Grant Awards from Wayne County Children's Resource Fund

The Wayne County Children’s Resource Fund was established in 2018 by Cheryl and Steve Shapiro to help remove barriers which may impede children's ability to lead meaningful and productive lives. These barriers may include poverty, drug use, bullying, discrimination, learning disabilities, low self-confidence, or a challenging home life.

The Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF) is pleased to announce the Wayne County Children’s Resource Fund’s grant awards totaling $33,000. Based on the evaluations and recommendations from the Fund’s Advisory Committee, the WCCF Board of Trustees approved the following grant awards:

Adaptive Sports Ohio received a $3,000 grant to help offset the costs of Wooster-based adaptive sports programs, including equipment, facility rental, registration, and tournament fees for youth with physical disabilities.

Boys & Girls Club of Wooster received a $4,000 grant for the Youth for Unity program blending bullying/bias prevention with Torch Club leadership, equipping preteens to build empathy, set inclusive norms, and lead restorative, peer-driven solutions that make Club culture safer and more welcoming.

Catholic Charities received a $3,000 grant for the Rise Above group program for youth, ages 11-17,  who are at-risk of court involvement, helping them to build resiliency and social-emotional skills and improve their awareness of substance use and suicide prevention.

Healthcare 2000 DBA The Viola Startzman Clinic received a $4,000 grant for children’s healthcare, offsetting uncompensated care costs and ensuring provider capacity, to strengthen their capacity to deliver preventive care, chronic disease management, urgent care, and behavioral health services to children in Wayne County regardless of ability to pay.

OHuddle received a $5,000 grant to build additional soft skills and workforce development skills for secondary students by working with the Heartland Educational Community and mentors in a variety of local industries.

People to People Ministries received a $2,000 grant to buy educational and/or interactive toys for children ages 6-11 as well as comfort gifts for teens, such as pajamas and sweatshirts, and personal hygiene items, as part of their annual Christmas project.

Stark County Diaper Bank Inc. (DBA Heart of Ohio Diaper Bank) received a $5,000 grant to provide emergency diaper supplies to support low-income children currently served each month in Wayne County.

The Caring Closet of Wooster received a $2,000 grant to restock their Shoe Room with new, quality shoes to fulfill their commitment to providing every child they serve with a new pair of shoes.

Wayne Center for the Arts received a $5,000 grant to provide 12 weeks of preschool art classes at Head Start Preschools in Wayne County, in partnership with Community Action Wayne/Medina.

The Wayne County Children’s Resource Fund grant guidelines and online application are available at www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org. Competitive grant applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations that help to remove barriers for Wayne County children should be submitted by September 1 each year.

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 the greater Wayne County area. Since 1978, the Foundation has awarded more than $124 million in the form of grants and scholarships from its 605 separate funds. Donations to provide greater future grant opportunities can be made to the Wayne County Children’s Resource Fund, a component fund of WCCF, by individuals, families, businesses and service organizations. Contact Melanie Reusser Garcia, WCCF Executive Director, for more information.