Wayne County Community Foundation donates over $450,000 in grants to local entities

Bryce Buyakie, The Daily Record
·4 min read

WOOSTER − The Wayne County Community Foundation Board of Trustees awarded $454,123 in grants to 19 Wayne County businesses, organizations and entities.

Grants allocated by the nonprofit range from roughly $3,000 to $50,000 for entities like the City of Orrville, Ohio's Hospice LifeCare and Learn 'N Play of Wooster, according to a foundation press release.

All grant money is locally donated money, said Lacie Neal, program manager for WCCF.

The goal of these grants and the foundation is "to serve as the financial stewards and to invest back to the community," Neal said.

Donating to local programs

The Wayne County Community Foundation holds two competitive grant cycles per year in the spring and fall, Neal explained.

The Wayne County Community Foundation donated over $450,000 in grants to 19 Wayne County area organizations.
The Wayne County Community Foundation donated over $450,000 in grants to 19 Wayne County area organizations.

To obtain funding, area nonprofits submit proposals to the Board of Trustees, which reviews and recommends funding to the foundation's Disbursement Committee, she said.

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Grants are broken into two main funds: Community Funds and Field-of-Interest Funds.

Community Funds focus on emerging or ongoing needs throughout Wayne County, according to a WCCF explanation of the grants.

Field-of-Interest Funds are specific to the donor, allowing them to focus a minimum of $10,000 on a specific topic, according to the WCCF. These topics can range from the arts and education to healthcare or geographical regions.

To learn more about these funds and the foundation, visit www.WayneCountyCommunityFoundation.org.

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Grants split 19 ways

  • The City of Orrville received $50,000 from the Carl E. Congdon Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund for the second project phase of Orr Park Skate Park.

  • The Wayne County Public Library received $50,000 from the Andrew Berkey Fund, the Margaret Hauenstein Memorial Fund and the WCCF General Fund for the new Rittman branch.

  • The YMCA of Wayne County received a $50,000 grant from the Carl E. Congdon Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund for roof repairs at the Orrville YMCA.

  • Ohio's Hospice LifeCare received $40,014 from the Lloyd James Memorial Fund and the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to buy end-of-life comfort items for patients including a cardiac monitor, specialty mattresses, an expandable bed, mobility chairs and pumps.

  • Friends of Secrest Arboretum received $40,000 from the WCCF General Fund to improve the accessibility, safety and functionality of the John Streeter Garden Amphitheater.

  • The Wayne Center for the Arts received $30,000 from an anonymous community fund and the Ruth Tieche Community Fund to revitalize the park behind the center.

  • The STEAM Playlab received $30,000 from the Nolan and Elsie Hite Community Fund, the Robert L. and Kathleen M. Polsky Foundation Community Fund and the Lillian Steiner Community Fund to buy 3D printers, a router, a CNC machine, a laser engraver, a vinyl printer and furniture for a studio.

  • The Orrville Historical Museum received $25,000 from Carl E. Congdon Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund to install footer drains along the south and east sides of the historic Judge Smith Orr home. The money will improve the home's foundation to prevent water damage.

  • Caring Closet of Wooster received $20,000 from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund for youth shopping for children from disadvantaged, foster or domestic abuse backgrounds.

  • Triway Local School District received a $20,000 Helen Sprowls Charitable Fund to buy equipment for their Robotics Team.

  • The Wooster Community Hospital Foundation received a $20,000 grant from the Lloyd James Memorial Fund to buy adult and infant manikins and simulators to train medical professionals.

  • Central American Medical Outreach, Inc. received $17,000 from the John Kaylor Memorial Fund to buy a used box truck to transport donated medical supplies.

  • Village of Dalton police and fire departments received $15,000 from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund to buy a drone. The grant will also provide training and licensing.

  • Milton Township and Wayne County received $10,608 from the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund for the Sterling Fire District, which will purchase a dual-purpose hose and gear dryer to decontaminate and dry gear between fires.

  • Learn 'N Play of Wooster received $10,000 from an anonymous community fund to update their playground equipment.

  • The Orrville Area Boys and Girls Club received $8,645.82 from the Carl E. Congdon Jr. and Susanna Congdon McIntyre Memorial Fund for a portable music studio.

  • Green Local Schools received $5,000 from the Beaverson Foundation to buy new television screens, signs and trophy cases for the Berkey Fieldhouse.

  • Summer Stage Wooster received $2,855.24 from an anonymous community fund to buy portable, energy-efficient LED lights for stage productions.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Area nonprofit donates over $450,000 in grants to local programs