Guernsey County Foundation awards more than $46,000 in grants for local projects, programs

Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian
·3 min read

CAMBRIDGE — The Guernsey County Foundation has awarded 17 grants, totaling $46,372, to support initiatives benefiting the county’s residents and communities, including two youth-led projects.

“It brings us great joy to invest our donors’ dollars into people, projects and programs that are committed to the betterment of Guernsey County today and for generations to come, just like the Guernsey County Foundation,” said Maribeth Wright, a member of the Guernsey County Foundation committee.

This summer, the Guernsey County Foundation and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio’s I’m a Child of Appalachia Fund invited nonprofits, schools and public organizations to apply for grants to advance initiatives across five areas essential to creating and sustaining transformative change: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services.

The Cambridge YMCA received grant money to be used for equipment for the gymnastics team and classes through the Guernsey County Foundation.
The Cambridge YMCA received grant money to be used for equipment for the gymnastics team and classes through the Guernsey County Foundation.

Emphasis was on supporting individuals of all ages who are spearheading projects and programs that create opportunities, meet pressing needs and unleash the potential within Guernsey County.

Grants were awarded to:

  • Cambridge Area YMCA to purchase equipment for the gymnastics team and classes.

  • Cambridge Intermediate School to bring Columbus Zoo animals and animal ambassadors to the school for the End of Year Celebration of Student Achievement.

  • Cambridge Intermediate School to help stock the school-wide PAX store and reinforce positive behavior.

  • Children's Advocacy Center of Guernsey County to establish a new program designed to offer comprehensive child sexual abuse prevention training to adults in Guernsey County.

  • Dickens Victorian Village to purchase a sound system for events.

  • East Central Ohio Educational Service Center to purchase books and bookbags for the third annual Family Reading Festival in Guernsey County.

  • East Muskingum Local Schools to support the Try Kindness program aimed at fostering a culture of kindness, inclusivity and positive behavior among students, staff and the wider school community.

  • Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center to provide nutritional supplement beverages to Guernsey County residents ages 60 and older who are diagnosed with cancer.

  • Hospice of Guernsey Inc. to cover the rental costs and supplies for a widows’ bereavement program weekend retreat.

  • Naz Café to support its community outreach efforts, including a weekly breakfast that serves individuals experiencing homelessness in Guernsey County.

  • Rolling Hills Local Schools to equip a new social-emotional wellness room that will be used by all students.

  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio to help cover overnight stays for Guernsey County families.

  • Society of St. Vincent De Paul Christ Our Light Conference to help offset the costs of training and testing for Guernsey County residents to become certified state tested nurse aides.

  • Village of Byesville to support Project Phoenix, providing matching funds for business development efforts and village improvements.

  • Village of Senecaville Betterment Council to support the first phase of park improvements through the construction of a covered pavilion and the purchase of picnic tables.

The I’m a Child of Appalachia Fund provided the Guernsey County Foundation with up to $5,000 to support projects developed and implemented by local youth under age 18. The Guernsey County Foundation awarded youth-led project grant funding to:

  • Cambridge High School to help cover the cost of students’ travel to Columbus to participate in the Ohio Model United Nations Conference

  • The iBELIEVE Foundation to fund the participation of Guernsey County youth in the 2024 iBELIEVE Youth Leadership Workshops

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is providing a 50-cent match for every $1 given to any endowment at FAO, including those supporting its affiliate foundations. Matching funds can even be used to help start a new endowment fund. A total of $500,000 in match funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis through Dec. 31, with up to $25,000 in match available per household.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Guernsey County Foundation awards more than $46,000 in grants