Nearly a Quarter of a Million Dollars Granted to Washington County Through MCF Fall Grant Cycle

Washington County, OH — Marietta Community Foundation is proud to announce that $245,683.49 is being invested into Washington County as a result of the Foundation’s Fall Grant Cycle. This is the largest amount the Foundation has ever awarded during a single grant cycle.

The grants are made possible by the Foundation’s Community Impact Fund, COVID-19 Community Response Fund, and the outstanding generosity of several donor funds.

The Foundation’s Allocations Committee and staff conducted research leading up to the final approvals, determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Grant applications were also shared with fund-holders who utilize the Foundation’s management and distribution services to provide an opportunity to co-fund projects.

In most cases, projects would not be able to come to fruition if not for funding from the Foundation.

Recipients of these grants include local non-profits and community projects from all across Washington County, including:

• American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley for Blood Save Lives; Fighting Cancer program.
• Betsey Mills Club for the Dining Room Restoration Project; paint the walls, ceilings, trim and cabinets in both the Dining Room and Colonial Room, restore hardwood flooring, refurbish tables, purchase new chairs, and update the kitchen.
• Boys & Girls Club of Washington County for funding for the Triple Play Program during the school year. This three component program promotes healthy lifestyle choices in the mind, body, and soul.
• Building Bridges to Careers to pilot a Recovery Support and Workforce Development program that enables those in recovery to utilize the Makerspace with Peer Support Specialists.
• Community Action-Washington/Morgan County to purchase a hot shot meal delivery truck. The meal delivery truck ensures that meals delivered to home bound seniors are at optimal temperature.
• Ely Chapman Education Foundation to replace Living Rivers Café Kitchen, Cafeteria, and handicap accessible floors. Also, funds needed to replace Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) funds that provide Sunshine Learning Station tuition support for eligible students.
• First Congregational Church to help continue the weekly free community take-out breakfast meal.
• Frontier Local School District to support improvements to the Fitness Center and Fieldhouse. Equipment will be purchased for the fitness center to build upon a new physical conditioning program.
• Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley to support a Women’s Build project in Washington County.
• Humane Society of the Ohio Valley to purchase and install acoustic panels in main dog room.
• Marietta College to support Nonprofits LEAD program.
• Marietta Main Street to implement an Art Local Grant Program to match private investments by business/building owners in partnership with local artists to install public art projects downtown.
• Marietta Tiger Athletic Boosters to purchase a Rawlings Two Wheel Pitching Machine for Marietta Tigers Baseball.
• MHS Wall of Sound Band Boosters to repair existing equipment and instruments.
• O’Neill Senior Center for additional and upgraded security cameras, adding extra security in case a senior got lost, has a fall or needs attention.
• OSU Extension- Washington County to rebuild and relocate the Master Gardener Volunteer Teaching Garden. Master Gardener volunteers work with youth from the Washington County Juvenile Center to maintain the gardens. The Juvenile Center utilizes the food from the garden with surplus given to Harvest of Hope.
• Presbyterian Church of Beverly for the Chuck Wagon Backpack Program that provides 48 children from Beverly-Center Elementary food for weekends and school breaks.
• River Cities Symphony Orchestra to support a live classical full orchestral concert at Peoples Bank Theatre.
• Salem Township Volunteer Fire Department to purchase and install a power load cot fastener to provide a safer and faster experience for patients and EMS personnel.
• Village of Beverly to aid in the painting of the Beverly-Waterford Community Pool floor, allowing the pool to open for the season.
• Washington County Historical Society of Ohio to install a forced air heating/cooling system in the basement of the Anchorage to control temperatures on the first floor.
• Washington County Homeless Project to support the Washington County Drop-In and Warming Center. Homeless individuals are able to get warm, get a hot meal, shower, do laundry and make connections with social services, housing providers and employment assistance. Several grantees expressed their gratitude after receiving the news.

“I would like to thank MCF for their donation to our fitness center,” said Johnny Schmidt of Frontier Local Schools. “We at FHS would like you to know the positive effect this gift will have on our kids. The folks at MCF have provided students with a positive outlet to express themselves and hopefully a lifelong activity! Thank you!”

The Betsey Mills Club’s Director, Kerry Jean Waddle, said "We are so appreciative to the Marietta community and the Marietta Community Foundation, and we feel honored and blessed to be a grant recipient for this cycle! The Marietta Community Foundation has assisted greatly as we fundraise toward a $50,000 Dining Room Renovation Project, and we can't be any more excited! Thank you, Marietta Community Foundation and all your generous supporters!”

Carrie McNamee, Washington-Morgan Community Action’s Director of Senior and Community Services, said “Washington-Morgan Community Action would like to thank Marietta Community Foundation for awarding us funding to purchase a Hot shot meal delivery truck for the Senior Nutrition Program. The Hot shot meal delivery trucks allows the Meals on Wheels program to deliver hot meals daily to seniors in Washington County over many miles.”

“The O’Neill Center is thrilled to be chosen for the 2021 Fall Grant Cycle. This award means that the community sees value in what we do,” said Erin O’Neill, Development Coordinator. “This award specifically will help us with security measures to keep seniors and staff safe in our facilities. We are so thankful to be considered for this grant and grateful for everything that Marietta Community Foundation does for all the nonprofit organizations.”

The Foundation’s next grant cycle will take place in the spring of 2022, with grant applications due on February 15th.

Marietta Community Foundation supports philanthropy and efforts to improve natural, human and civic resources in Washington County through grants and initiatives. Founded in 1974, Marietta Community Foundation has grown to approximately $42.6 million in assets, oversees more than 300 funds and has distributed more than $22 million to charities while meeting rigorous national standards for operational quality, donor service, and accountability in the community foundation sector.