The Marietta Community Foundation has awarded recipients of their first grant cycle this year. Grants were awarded to 18 applicants and totaled more than $50,000 from unrestricted and donor restricted funds.

Recipients include local charities, community projects and a number of Marietta non-profits. Thanks to their generous donors, the Foundation continues to see steady growth.

Spring Cycle Grantees Included:

• Belpre Area Multi-Use Trail Committee
• Boys & Girls Club of Washington County
• The Castle
• Christian Youth in Action, Inc.
• Community Action-Washington/Morgan County
• Eve, Inc.
• Humane Society of the Ohio Valley
• The iBelieve Foundation
• Marietta Children’s Choir
• Marietta College
• Marietta in Bloom
• Marietta Main Street
• Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival
• Village of Lowell
• Washington County 4-H Council
• Washington State Community College Foundation

Proposals for the first round of the 2018 grant cycle closed on April 1st. Final approval was decided by the Foundation’s Allocations Committee earlier this month.

Grant recipients often receive a combination of donor restricted funds, which come directly from active donors of funds the Foundation holds, and unrestricted funds. The Marietta Community Foundation shares all grant applications with active donors to maintain open communication and allow donors the chance to support the causes that inspire them.

“We thank the Marietta Community Foundation for agreeing to assist with our matching funds for the Transportation Alternative Program Grant,” said Kelly Cox, a volunteer on the Belpre Area Multi-Use Trail Committee. “These funds will be used to purchase a 1.6 mile section of old railroad bed from CSX property that runs from Collins Road to The Little Hocking River in Belpre Township. We will eventually be connecting with the Athens, Ohio end of the Athens Belpre Rail Trail. We look forward to children and families using the path for recreation and safe paths to get to the school and to the parks.”

The Village of Lowell requested funding to assist with their “Light the Park” campaign, an installation of 12 new light posts along the walking path on Buell Island. “The lights will be a great improvement for all who use Buell Park,” said David Vandenberg, a volunteer on the committee. “The Octoberfest Committee and the citizens of the Lowell area would like to thank all of the donors for their support of this project. If citizens would like to support continued improvement at Buell Park they can make a donation to the Buell Park Perpetual Care Fund at the Marietta Community Foundation.”

Another project that received funding this cycle was the roof replacement on The Castle in Marietta. “Very late last year, we were informed that the 163-year old slate roof over our historic house museum was at the end of its life span and needed replaced quickly,” said Scott Britton, Executive Director of The Castle Historic House Museum. “With the Foundation’s recent grant award, we are another step closer to achieving our fundraising goal to offset this large expense.”

The next grant cycle will close on October 1st, 2018. Donations to assist in funding grant applications, or any other local need may be made to the Foundation by contacting Heather Allender, CEO at 740-373-3286 or heather@mcfohio.org.

The Foundation uses 100% of general donations for the grant cycle funding. This means any donations made now would immediately assist grant recipients for the second cycle in 2018.

The Marietta Community Foundation meets National Standards for operations, quality, donor service and accountability in the community foundation sector. Founded in 1974, the Marietta Community Foundation has grown over the years thanks to a number of generous gifts.