Washington County, OH — $141,825 is being allocated to local nonprofits as a direct result of Marietta Community Foundation’s 2023 Spring Grant Cycle.
This grant cycle pivoted slightly to pilot the Foundation’s newly remodeled grant programming. As a result, some Community Impact grant applications were processed as Simple Solution grants.
Simple Solution grants seek to meet immediate needs and are primarily funded by fundholders. This model allows the pooled unrestricted funding of the Community Impact fund to be used for strategic investments in the areas of greatest need in Washington County. Both Community Impact and Simple Solution grant applications are shared with the Foundation’s fundholders to maximize the opportunities to support projects.
The following grants were awarded:
Community Impact Grants
The Castle Museum to maintain camper registration fees and expand the offerings of their summer History Camp, offered to children between 3rd and 6th grade.
Community Food Initiatives to provide two Nourishing Network events in Washington County, which will host workshops with trained facilitators that provide data on food security, facilitate discussion of barriers and strategies for food access, and support the development of community-led food access projects.
Decatur Community Association to replace the roof on the community building and picnic shelter. The building is regularly used by the community for celebrations, meetings, and community events.
Ely Chapman Education Foundation to continue the Leader in Me Program for the 2023-2024 school year. The program is designed to develop resiliency and leadership in young people and will address the negative academic, and social-emotional effects of the past two pandemic years while increasing positive behavior habits for our youth.
EVE, Incorporated to provide domestic violence survivors with emergency financial assistance to help with a variety of needs (replace legal documents, purchase medication, food, and formula, provide transportation, or provide items needed for safety and capacity building.
First Congregational Church to purchase sausage patties, eggs, and fruit to distribute take-out meals through the Free Community Breakfast program.
Frontier Local School District to replace worn-out playground equipment at Newport Elementary School, which is used by the elementary students as well as the entire community during non-school hours.
Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley to purchase construction materials needed for a home being built on Valley View Drive in Belpre.
Humane Society of the Ohio Valley to build additional kennel space for short-term housing and care for pets of residents who are dealing with short-term hospital stays, changes in their living situation, or fleeing abusive homes.
The iBELIEVE Foundation to provide ten scholarships for Washington County youth to attend the iBELIEVE Foundation's 2023 Summer Youth Leadership Workshops.
Ohio Univeristy Diabetes Institute to provide scholarships for Washington County children living with Type 1 Diabetes to attend Diabetes CAT summer camp.
Marietta College for STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Camp tailored for elementary students that will reoccur this summer.
Muskingum Valley Council BSA to provide financial assistance for low-income youth from Washington County to participate in scouting.
O’Neill Senior Center to replace the motor in one of their fleet vehicles, which will return the vehicle to service to accommodate the medical transportation requests.
The Right Path of Washington County to support the 5th Annual Mini Farmer’s Markets, with five sites throughout Washington County.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio to provide shelter for Washington County families with seriously ill children in nearby hospitals through the Helping Hands Program. This program helps to close the gap between what families can donate and the actual costs of their stay.
Warren Local School District to support the county-wide Field Day event for special education students that Warren Local Schools will be hosting. Funds will be used to provide commemorative shirts and event awards.
WASCO, Inc. to purchase multiple recliners and protective coverings that individuals would be able to utilize at the WASCO locations throughout Washington County. Many of the locations have limited furniture and/or seating options for their clients and the current furniture being used needs replaced.
Washington County Homeless Project to cover the cost of personnel, supplies, and non-perishable food for the Drop-In Center to assist those that are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Washington County.
Parkersburg Area Community Foundation to cover the participation cost of two Washington County students in their Civic Leaders Program, which provides a 6-8 week summer fellowship and encourages students to stay local.
Simple Solution Grants
Belpre Performing Arts Boosters to support the musical education of K-12 students by covering the cost of supplies, instruments, speakers, and uniforms.
Fort Frye Local School District to provide assistance with the 8th Grade field trip to Washington DC.
Marietta High School Girls Soccer to purchase new uniforms for the girls’ soccer team. The uniforms have been worn significantly more often during the last two years, causing them to fall short of their replacement cycle.
Mid-Ohio Valley Youth Choir (formerly Marietta Children’s Choir) to purchase new music and new summer uniforms. The Youth Choir presents children with an opportunity to develop their musical abilities and explore complex musical options not offered within the school environment.
Warren Local School District to purchase materials and supplies needed to build and maintain five 20-foot-long raised garden beds so that students can learn how to create a reliable food source while providing healthy, nutritious food options.
Washington County Community Hardship & Disaster Relief Program to provide short-term assistance to Washington County residents experiencing financial hardship due to unexpected and unavoidable emergencies or natural disasters. Funds can also cover fees related to extracurricular activities or purchasing clothes and/or equipment.
Washington County Imagination Library Program to support the registration of Washington County children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which mails high-quality, age-appropriate books to children each month until their fifth birthday.
Washington State Community College Foundation to expand the Student Emergency Services Fund to offer more gas cards to low-income students with transportation issues.
After discovering that their applications had been approved, numerous grant recipients enthusiastically and gratefully expressed their appreciation for the Foundation's support. Among them was Robin Bozian, the Executive Director of the Washington County Homeless Project.
“These funds will enable us to continue to provide a place for homeless and those at risk of homelessness to shower, do laundry, have a hot meal, and receive referrals to local resources and/or treatment,” reported Bozian. “We could not provide these services in the coming year without the support of the Foundation.”
Wendy Bartlett, a member of the Christian Outreach committee of the First Congregational-United Church of Christ, acknowledged that this latest grant is one of many awarded by the Foundation to address food insecurity.
“[We have] a long history of feeding the food-insecure people in our local community,” said Bartlett. “As food costs and other living expenses rise and the need continues, the generous grant from MCF helps to continue that important work.”
Additionally, the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley was surprised with a check presentation during their Business After Hours event on May 11.
“We often receive requests from people in the community who have an urgent need to board their pet,” explained President Amber Dennison. “We wanted to provide a community resource to help people/families avoid surrendering a beloved pet by offering free, short-term boarding in emergencies.”
Nearly-completed, short-term shelter at HSOV
The nearly-completed building was open for tours during the event. According to Shelter Director Karissa Reynolds, construction is slated to wrap up at the end of June.
Marietta Community Foundation is where generous families, businesses, and nonprofits come together to transform lives and strengthen Washington County, Ohio — turning good intentions into great accomplishments. The Foundation has distributed more than $27 Million to charities since its creation in 1974 and currently manages over 350 funds while meeting rigorous national standards in the community foundation sector.