Straker Foundation awards $1.8 million to local projects
ZANESVILLE − The J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation is releasing more than $1.8 million in funding during its spring 2023 grant cycle.
The foundation exists to enhance the Muskingum County community, with particular interest in supporting education and opportunities for strong youth development, poverty abatement, civic growth, the arts and outdoor recreational opportunities.
The foundation will support a CDL training program at Tri-Valley High School with a grant of $105,000, assist with pool repairs and maintenance in the Village of Dresden at $126,702, help Franklin Local School’s transition to STEM programming with $169,980 and grant the Girl Scouts of Southern Ohio $188,525 to install a new roof at its Zanesville facility. The foundation also awarded $100,000 to the Abbot Home to support its capital campaign.
Additionally, the Straker Foundation grants committee approved the following grant requests:
• $50,000 to Allwell Behavioral Services for a vehicle to support CORE programs• $30,000 to Appalachian Ohio Adventures to update the Marina Trail at Dillon State Park• $34,369.60 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Zanesville for the Lunch Buddies program and staff training• $12,000 to Bethel Mission for the Food for All program• $68,600 to Breaking Free Therapeutic Riding to complete final stages of facilities improvement• $49,000 to Buckeye Valley Y to start Y on the Fly programming• $15,000 to Central Trinity United Methodist Church for stained glass renovation• $74,300 to ForeverDads to complete phase four of its building restoration• $51,832.25 to Homeless Hands to remove and replace siding on the Greenwood facility• $10,000 to I Am A Warrior for suicide prevention efforts• $42,773 to Larry Miller Elementary School for a new playground• $60,000 to Maysville Schools for various educational initiatives• $35,000 to Muskingum Behavioral Health for roofing on the Naomi House and matching funding for a grant for a vehicle• $8,000 to Minority Business Network of Southeastern Ohio for printing volume four of "Archives of the People"• $15,000 to Muskingum County Center for Seniors for entertainment equipment and sound system• $11,633.19 to Muskingum County Library System for virtual reality equipment• $5,000 to Muskingum County Social Justice Coalition for public relations and training costs• $8,294.27 to Muskingum Valley Soil and Water for the High Hill Community garden• $10,000 to Muskingum Valley Garden Society for downtown plantings• $20,000 to New Concord Summer Baseball and Softball to replace fencing on two fields• $15,450 to New Covenant Church for various renovations• $30,000 to Ohio University Zanesville for experiential programming and student support programs• $40,000 to PAWS of Muskingum County for spay and neuter services for domestic and feral cats• $19,544.72 to Project Blueprint for sports equipment, travel expenses, hygiene materials and other items• $10,000 to Red Cross of Southeastern Ohio for awareness education and blood drives• $5,000 to Roseville Historical Society for website development • $10,000 to the Salvation Army for emergency social services• $10,000 to Shrivers Hospice for the Someday is Today program• $10,000 to St. James Episcopal Church for kitchen floor replacement• $8,000 to Transitions for retaining wall and walkway repair• $25,000 to Tri-Valley Middle School baseball for fencing, storage and a mower• $26,856 to Union Baptist Church for resurfacing the parking lot• $17,525 to The Wilds for a playground and pavilion at Straker Lake• $10,750 to Y-Bridge Arts Festival for entertainment and publicity• $30,000 to Y-City Midget League Baseball for park improvements• $6.398.84 to Zane Grey Elementary for a COSI field trip
The foundation also funded two continuing grants to Habitat for Humanity of Southeastern Ohio and the Muskingum County Literacy Council. Three other potential funding projects are in discovery stages.
Go to strakerfoundation.org for more information on the next grant cycle.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Straker Foundation awards $1.8 million to local projects
