Youth Foundation Awards $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 nineteen grant proposals for the 2026 grant cycle. Based on their recommendations to the Wayne County Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, ten organizations received grants totaling $20,000:

A Kid Again - Northern Ohio Chapter received a $2,500 grant to support 2026 Adventures, to cover admission, meals, activity supplies, and staffing so children with life-threatening conditions and their families can create joyful, lasting memories together.

Adaptive Sports Ohio received a $2,000 grant to support the purchase of an enclosed trailer for the new Norwayne Interscholastic Wheelchair Basketball Team.

Anazao Community Partners received a $5,000 grant to support embedded mental health and substance use services for Wayne County youth participating in summer programs, helping ensure continuity of care during the months when school-based services are unavailable.

Catholic Charities received a $500 grant to provide hygiene kits for youth participating in their WISE, Rise Above, and STRIVE programs, supporting youths’ most basic needs so they can confidently and meaningfully engage in the programs and in the community.

Children's Advocacy Center serving Wayne, Holmes, and Ashland Counties received a $1,900 grant to support secure electronic storage of client documentation while enhancing access to educational information and community resources at the CAC and through partner local agencies.

The Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties received a $1,500 grant to purchase materials for youth (art supplies, journals, weighted blankets, etc.) to be used by clinicians working with youth to address mental health concerns and meet their mental health needs.

Girls on the Run East Central Ohio received a $1,500 grant to enhance the community service project portion of the program, for all sites in Wayne County, to allow for an even bigger impact in the community.

Goodwill of Wayne and Holmes Counties received a $2,000 grant to support low-income youth by covering the costs of driver’s education, required driving exams, and additional behind-the-wheel instruction

OneEighty, Inc. received a $600 grant for the Turning Point Coalition’s RIDERS Program to support youth-led prevention projects, incentives, educational materials, and supplies that strengthen student leadership, group cohesion, and community-focused substance prevention.

Wayne Center for the Arts received a $2,500 grant for Behind the Curtain, Artist Workshops, to pay visiting musicians, directors/filmmakers to teach hands-on workshops that help students learn directly from professionals.

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; they evaluate and recommend grant awards, and meet local philanthropic leaders.

For the 2025-2026 school year, 45 students representing nine local high schools participated in the Youth Foundation. A program graduation was held on April 26, 2026 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.